Editing Naas Botha

{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name              = Naas Botha
| image             = Rugby Naas Botha.jpg
| caption           = Botha playing a game of rugby
| birth_name        = Hendrik Egnatius Botha
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1958|2|27|df=yes}}
| birth_place       = [[Breyten]], [[Transvaal Province|Transvaal]], [[Union of South Africa|South Africa]]
| death_date        =
| death_place       = 
| height            = 
| weight            = 
| position          = [[Fly-half (rugby union)|Fly-half]]
| amatyears1        = 
| amatteam1         = 
| amatapps1         = 
| amatpoints1       = 
| ru_amupdate       = 
| years1            = 1987–93
| clubs1            = [[Rugby Rovigo]]
| apps1             = 119
| points1           = 1731
| ru_clubupdate     = 11 August 2014
| province1         = [[Blue Bulls|Northern Transvaal]]
| provinceyears1    = 1977–95
| provinceapps1     = 179
| provincepoints1   = 2511
| ru_provinceupdate = 11 August 2014
| repsevensyears1   = 
| repsevenscomp1    = 
| ru_sevensupdate   = 
| repteam1          = {{nrut|South Africa}} 
| repteam2          = World XV
| repyears1         = 1980–92
| repyears2         = 1986, 1992
| repcaps1          = 28
| reppoints1        = 312
| ru_ntupdate       = 11 August 2014
| coachteams1       = 
| coachyears1       = 
| ru_coachupdate    = 
| school            = Hoërskool Hendrik Verwoerd
| university        = [[University of Pretoria]]
}}

'''Hendrik Egnatius 'Naas' Botha''' (born 27 February 1958) is a South African former [[rugby union]] player who played as a [[Fly-half (rugby union)|Fly-half]] for [[Blue Bulls|Northern Transvaal]], [[Rugby Rovigo]] and [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] (the Springboks).

He was voted [[SA Rugby Player of the Year]] in 1979, 1981, 1985 and 1987.<ref name=fv>{{cite book|year=1980s|first=Jani |last=Allan|title=[[Face Value (book)|Face Value]] |publisher=Longstreet|pages=80–2|isbn=0-620-07013-7}}</ref> Botha mostly played in the [[Fly-half (rugby union)|fly-half]] position and is now a rugby commentator for the South African [[M-Net]] and [[SuperSport (South African broadcaster)|Supersport]] TV channels.<ref name="WhosWho">{{cite web | title = Who's Who of Southern Africa| url = http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=4580  | publisher= 24.com| access-date = 6 June 2009}}</ref> He is also the Director of Rugby at Hoërskool Eldoraigne.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Naas Botha Takes the Helm as Director of Rugby at Hoërskool Eldoraigne |url = https://saschoolsports.co.za/naas-botha-takes-the-helm-as-director-of-rugby-at-eldoraigne/|access-date=2023-10-10 |website=SA School Sports | date=10 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

== Family and early career ==

Botha was born in the town of [[Breyten]] in the Eastern Transvaal (now [[Mpumalanga]]), South Africa and went to school at the [[Hoërskool Hendrik Verwoerd]] in [[Pretoria]]. As a child, Botha aspired to playing professional baseball and applied for a [[athletic scholarship|sport scholarship]] in the [[Sport in the United States|United States]]. Botha was also an excellent schools cricket and tennis player and also a hurdles athlete.

However, Botha was selected to play for the South African under-20 rugby team, where he caught the eye of the selectors while still a student at the [[University of Pretoria]].<ref>http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/hendrik-botha-4580 Naas Botha Retrieved 25 June 2011</ref>

As a result, Botha played his first [[Rugby union#Major international competitions|Test]] for the Springboks on 26 April 1980 at the age of 22 in the flyhalf position against South America at [[Wanderers Stadium|Wanderers]], [[Johannesburg]].

== Rugby union ==

Botha was best known for extremely accurate (both left- and right-footed) kicking, which earned him the nickname "Nasty Booter" from the British press when the [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]] toured [[1980 British Lions tour to South Africa|South Africa in 1980]]. He is best remembered for his abilities as a very successful drop-kicker in high pressure situations and is also considered to have had an outstanding tactical understanding of rugby.

While Botha was sometimes criticised for avoiding physical contact and not running with the ball, his handling of the ball was very deft and he could get his backline moving very quickly with accurate short- and long-range passing. As a result, he scored many tries and contributed to many more. However, some consider that he was somewhat weak in defence. Nevertheless, [[Danie Craven]] once said, "Give me Naas, and I'll conquer the world!"

Botha remained the highest points scorer in Springbok rugby history for a number of years,{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} with a points total of 312. His tally was passed by [[Percy Montgomery]] on 17 July 2004. However, Montgomery passed him in his 50th match, while Botha had only played in 28.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Bankfin Annual 1993|last=Van Rooyen|first=Quintus|publisher=SA Rugby Writers' Society|year=1993|isbn=0620172940|pages=209}}</ref>

In addition to his Springbok rugby-playing duties, Botha also played for the Northern Transvaal province (nicknamed the "Blou Bulle", which means "[[Blue Bulls]]", now their official name) from 1977 to 1995. During this period they won the [[Currie Cup]] nine times (sharing it twice with Western Province in 1979 and 1989). He was also captain of the province a record 128 times and scored a record 2,511 points (including 1,699 points in the Currie Cup).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Currie Cup Final by the numbers |url=https://rugby365.com/tournaments/currie-cup/news-currie-cup/currie-cup-final-by-the-numbers/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=rugby365.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2016-07-20 |title=Naas Botha - The Perfect 10 |url=https://realrugby.co.za/naas-botha-perfect-10/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Real Rugby |language=en-ZA}}</ref>

== The 1981 tour and sporting bans ==

In 1980, Botha traveled with the Springboks to South America.

The 'boks beat France at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria; in 1981 they subsequently beat Ireland in their warm-up to their [[1981 Springbok Tour|tour of New Zealand]]. Public opinion was deeply divided over the New Zealand tour. Botha and his fellow Springboks' focus on playing rugby was made difficult by actions such as pitch invasions and aircraft fly-bys from protesters opposed to South Africa's apartheid policies. South Africa lost the series 2-1, although the implications of the tour went far beyond rugby.

As an indirect result of this tour, South Africa was banned by the [[International Rugby Board]] from international competition until 1992. This meant that, apart from hosting the rebel [[New Zealand Cavaliers]] tour in 1986, Botha played few international games, including two tests in 1989 against a World 15 made up by players from England, Wales and France. Domestically he continued to excel: in 15 seasons playing for Northern Transvaal he played in 11 Currie Cup finals, winning nine (two shared) and scoring a record 2,511 points.

== International career ==

In the pre-professional era that Botha played in, being paid to play rugby was always a controversial subject. Despite being handsomely paid "under the table", Botha was of the opinion that he could earn more in professional sport, and was invited by the [[American football]] team the [[Dallas Cowboys]] in 1983 to travel to the United States to try out as a [[placekicker]]. While in the United States, Naas also played rugby with the [[Dallas Harlequins]], where he helped them to the 1984 USA National Club Championships. The Dallas try-out was ultimately not successful, and he returned to South Africa to continue his rugby career.

In 1987, once again primarily for monetary considerations, Botha moved to the Italian club [[Rugby Rovigo]], where he was coached by the former Springboks coach [[Nelie Smith]] and played alongside fellow South Africans [[Tito Lupini]] and [[Gert Smal]]. During the course of 6 seasons, Botha played 119 games for Rovigo and helped the team winning two National Championships (in 1988 and 1990), ending a 9 years drought, also reaching the final twice (1989 and 1992), in addition to a semifinal (1991) and a quarter final (1993). The Botha-era is still vividly remembered in [[Rovigo]], the most rugby-addicted city in [[Italy]], where the former player enjoys a sort of [[Maradona]]/[[Napoli]] aura.

== Return to the Springboks ==

Botha's career lasted long enough for him to see South Africa let back into the international rugby fold and to play in one-off Tests against World Cup holders Australia and New Zealand. Both games ended in defeat. Botha then toured France with the Springboks, before bowing out, age 34, as flyhalf against [[England national rugby union team|England]] at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]], London, in a 33–16 defeat on 14 November 1992.

Botha had set countless Springbok records during his rugby career and is still considered to be one of the Springbok "greats".

== Personal life ==

Botha is now married to [[Karen Botha|Karen]], a former Springbok athlete and long jump record-holder; the couple have three daughters, Kyla (1991) Gaeby (1998) and Lee-gre (2003).<ref>[http://www.sarie.com/bekendes/ons-praat-met-bekendes/naas-botha-net-een-span-vir-my/ Sarie interviews Botha] Retrieved 5 December 2014</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.netwerk24.com/sarie/bekendes/het-jy-gehoor/so-vier-naas-en-karen-botha-kersfees-20170914 | title=Só vier Naas en Karen Botha Kersfees }}</ref>

== Career stats ==

===Summary===

{| class="wikitable unsortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
|-
! style="width:35%;" |Team!!{{Tooltip|Matches|Matches played}}!!{{Tooltip|Won|Matches won}}!!{{Tooltip|Draw|Matches draw}} !!{{Tooltip|Lost|Matches lost}} !! {{Tooltip|Tries|Tries scored}}!!{{Tooltip|Con|Conversions scored}}!!{{Tooltip|Pen|Penalty goals scored}}!!{{Tooltip|Drop|Drop goals scored}}!!{{Tooltip|Points|Total points scored}}!!{{Tooltip|P/M|Points per Match}}!! {{Tooltip|%Won|Percentage of matches won}}
|-
| align="left"| {{nrut|South Africa}} – [[Test match (rugby union)|Test matches]]||28 || 19 || 0 || 9 ||2 || 50 || 50 || 18 || '''312''' || {{#expr:312/28round 2}}||{{#expr:19/28*100 round 2}}
|-
| align="left"| {{nrut|South Africa}} – Tour matches ||12 || 10 || 0 || 2 ||4 || 41 || 16 || 9 || '''173''' || {{#expr:173/12round 2}}|| {{#expr:10/12*100 round 2}}
|}

===Test match record===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! No. !! Opposition !! Result (SA 1st) !! Position !! Points !! Date !! Venue
|- 
|1. || [[File:Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg|24px]] [[South American Jaguars]] || align="center"|24–9  || [[Fly-half (rugby union)|Fly-half]] || 12 <small>(3 con, 1 pen, 1 drop)</small>  || 26 Apr 1980 || [[Wanderers Stadium]], Johannesburg
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|2. || [[File:Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg|24px]] South American Jaguars || align="center"|18–9  || Fly-half || 14 <small>(1 con, 1 pen, 3 drop)</small> || 3 May 1980 || [[Kings Park Stadium|Kings Park]], Durban
|-
|3. || {{flag|British and Irish Lions|name=British Lions}} || align="center"|26–22 || Fly-half || 6 <small>(3 con)</small> || 31 May 1980 || [[Newlands Stadium|Newlands]], Cape Town
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|4. || {{flagicon|British and Irish Lions}} British Lions || align="center"|26–19 || Fly-half || 10 <small>(2 con, 2 pen)</small> || 14 Jun 1980 || [[Free State Stadium]], Bloemfontein
|- 
|5. || {{flagicon|British and Irish Lions}} British Lions || align="center"|12–10  || Fly-half || 8 <small>(1 con, 1 pen, 1 drop)</small> || 28 Jun 1980 || [[EPRU Stadium|Boet Erasmus Stadium]], Port Elizabeth
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|6. || {{flagicon|British and Irish Lions}} British Lions  || align="center"|13–17  || Fly-half || 3 <small>(1 pen)</small> || 12 Jul 1980|| [[Loftus Versfeld Stadium|Loftus Versfeld]], Pretoria
|- 
|7. || [[File:Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg|24px]] South American Jaguars || align="center"|22–13  || Fly-half || 10 <small>(2 con, 1 pen, 1 drop)</small>  || 18 Oct 1980  || [[Estadio Alfredo Victor Viera|Wanderers Club]], Montevideo
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|8. || [[File:Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg|24px]] South American Jaguars || align="center"|30–16  || Fly-half ||6 <small>(3 con)</small>  || 25 Oct 1980  ||Prince of Wales Country Club, [[Santiago]]
|- 
|9. || {{ru|FRA}} || align="center"|37–15 || Fly-half ||17 <small>(4 con, 3 pen)</small>  || 8 Nov 1980 || Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 10. || {{ru|IRE}}  || align="center"|23–15  || Fly-half ||  11 <small>(1 con, 3 pen)</small>|| 30 May 1981 || Newlands, Cape Town
|- 
| 11. ||  {{ru|IRE}} || align="center"|12–10 || Fly-half ||12 <small>(1 pen, 3 drop)</small>  || 6 Jun 1981 || Kings Park, Durban
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 12. || {{ru|NZL}} || align="center"|9–14  || Fly-half || 5 <small>(1 con, 1 drop)</small> || 15 Aug 1981 || [[Lancaster Park]], Christchurch
|- 
|13. || {{ru|NZL}} || align="center"|24–12 || Fly-half ||20 <small>(1 con, 5 pen, 1 drop)</small>  || 29 Aug 1981 || [[Athletic Park, Wellington|Athletic Park]], Wellington
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 14. || {{ru|NZL}}  || align="center"|22–25 || Fly-half || 10 <small>(2 con, 2 pen)</small> || 12 Sep 1981|| [[Eden Park]], Auckland
|- 
| 15. || {{ru|USA}} || align="center"|38–7 || Fly-half || 6 <small>(3 con)</small> || 20 Sep 1981|| Owl Creek Polo ground, [[Glenville, New York]]
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 16. || [[File:Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg|24px]] South American Jaguars || align="center"|50–18  || Fly-half ||  15 <small>(6 con, 1 drop)</small> || 27 Mar 1982 || Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
|- 
| 17. || [[File:Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg|24px]] South American Jaguars || align="center"|12–21  || Fly-half || 8 <small>(1 con, 2 pen)</small>  || 3 Apr 1982 || Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 18. || [[New Zealand Cavaliers]] || align="center"|21–15 || Fly-half ([[Captain (sports)|c]]) || 17 <small>(1 con, 3 pen, 2 drop)</small> || 10 May 1986 || Newlands, Cape Town
|- 
| 19. || New Zealand Cavaliers || align="center"|18–19 || Fly-half (c) ||14 <small>(1 con, 4 pen)</small> || 17 May 1986 || Kings Park, Durban
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 20. || New Zealand Cavaliers || align="center"|33–18 || Fly-half (c) || 21 <small>(1 try, 4 con, 3 pen)</small> || 24 May 1986 || Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
|- 
| 21. || New Zealand Cavaliers || align="center"|24–10 || Fly-half (c) || 17 <small>(1 con, 5 pen)</small> 	|| 31 May 1986 || Ellis Park, Johannesburg
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 22. || [[World XV]] ||	align="center"|20–19	|| Fly-half || 12 <small>(1 try, 1 con, 2 pen)</small> ||26 Aug 1989 ||Newlands, Cape Town
|- 
| 23. || World XV || align="center"|22–16 || Fly-half ||14 <small>(1 con, 3 pen, 1 drop)</small>  ||2 Sep 1989 || Ellis Park, Johannesburg
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 24. || {{ru|NZL}} || align="center"|24–27 || Fly-half (c) || 9 <small>(3 con, 1 pen)</small> || [[1992 South Africa vs New Zealand rugby union match|15 Aug 1992]] || Ellis Park, Johannesburg
|- 
| 25. ||{{ru|AUS}} || align="center"|3–26 || Fly-half (c) || 3 <small>(1 pen)</small> || 22 Aug 1992 || Newlands, Cape Town
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 26. || {{ru|FRA}} || align="center"|20–15 || Fly-half (c) || 10 <small>(2 con, 1 pen, 1 drop)</small> || 17 Oct 1992 || [[Stade de Gerland]], Lyon
|- 
| 27. || {{ru|FRA}} || align="center"|16–29 || Fly-half (c) || 11 <small>(1 con, 2 pen, 1 drop)</small> || 24 Oct 1992 || [[Parc des Princes]], Paris
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 28. || {{ru|ENG}}  || align="center"|16–33 ||  Fly-half (c) || 11 <small>(1 con, 2 pen, 1 drop)</small> || 14 Nov 1992 || [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]], London
|}
''Legend: pen = penalty (3 pts.); con = conversion (2 pts.), drop = drop kick (3 pts.).''

==See also==

*[[List of South Africa national rugby union players#List|List of South Africa national rugby union players]] – Springbok no. '''502'''

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100805061304/http://naasbotha.com/ Naas Botha's homepage]
*{{cite web| url=http://www.scrum.com/1200_1205.php?player=26511&includeref=dynamic |title=Naas Botha |publisher=scrum.com |access-date=26 December 2007}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/sports/naas.htm |title=Rugby: Naas Botha |last=Morgan |first=Brad |publisher=southafrica.info |access-date=26 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124180523/http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/sports/naas.htm |archive-date=24 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}
*{{cite web| url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=2596 |title=Naas Botha – Biography |publisher=sporting-heroes.net |access-date=26 December 2007}}
*{{cite web| url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=937 |title=Naas Botha – International Record |publisher=sporting-heroes.net |access-date=26 December 2007}}
*{{cite web| url=http://www.famousfaces.co.za/sports/n_botha.html |title=Naas Botha |publisher=famousfaces.co.za |access-date=26 December 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071013192448/http://www.famousfaces.co.za/sports/n_botha.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 13 October 2007}}
*{{cite web| url=http://rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/botha2005.htm |title=Naas Botha |publisher=rugbyhalloffame.com |access-date=26 December 2007}}
*{{cite web| url=http://www.sporthalloffame.co.za/pdfs/Page%201-67.p47.pdf |title=Naas Botha |publisher=sporthalloffame.co.za |access-date=26 December 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080227103707/http://www.sporthalloffame.co.za/pdfs/Page%201-67.p47.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 27 February 2008}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.supersport.co.za/feature.aspx?Id=38 |title=Presenter profile – Naas Botha |publisher=supersport.co.za |access-date=26 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030005400/http://www.supersport.co.za/feature.aspx?Id=38 |archive-date=30 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Divan Serfontein]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Springbok captains|Springbok Captain]]|years=1986 and 1992}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jannie Breedt]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Overseas Unions XV}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Botha, Naas}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Msukaligwa Local Municipality]]
[[Category:Afrikaner people]]
[[Category:South African rugby union players]]
[[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Rugby union fly-halves]]
[[Category:World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:University of Pretoria alumni]]
[[Category:South Africa national rugby union team captains]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Mpumalanga]]
[[Category:Blue Bulls players]]
[[Category:Rugby Rovigo Delta players]]
[[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in Italy]]