John Philip Botha

John Philip Botha

John Philip Botha, known as Bakkies, was born on Newcastle, Natal, on 22 September 1979 and educated at Middelburg Technical High School and Vereeneging THS. In 1998 he captained South African Schools. He played at provincial and Super Rugby levels for the Blue Bulls and Bulls teams that won the Currie Cup and Super 14. He gained his first test cap at lock in 2002 and played in the Rugby World Cups of 2003 and 2007. By the start of the 2011 RWC he had played in 74 tests, most famously alongside Victor Matfield [q.v.]. Bakkies Botha played for the Barbarians against Australia at Wembley Stadium in 2008 and two years later was in the Springboks' team against the Barbarians at Twickenham. Bakkies played his last ever game of rugby when he appeared for the Barbarians at Twickenham in November 2015 against Argentina.