Botha To Win 100th Cap In Belfast

Having been named in Anthony Foley’s starting 15 for tomorrow’s Guinness PRO12 Final against Glasgow Warriors, South African tighthead BJ Botha will win his 100th cap for the province.

This season has already seen four of his Munster team-mates reach the career milestone and in total, BJ (Brendon James) becomes the tenth player of the current squad to have done so, alongside Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Denis Hurley, Donnacha Ryan, Damien Varley – and this year's additions – Billy Holland, Keith Earls, Tommy O'Donnell and Ian Keatley.

A native of Durban, the front row already had quite the distinguished career before joining Munster. In his homeland he played Super Rugby for the Sharks and was a member of the South African squad that won the 2007 World Cup. In total, the 35 year old amassed a total of 25 caps for his country and is the only member of the current Munster squad to have won a senior World Cup medal.

Following his World Cup exploits and prior to playing for Munster, BJ first cut his teeth in European rugby with Ulster, spending three seasons with the northern outfit – playing 58 times and scoring 2 tries – before making the move down south in 2011.

His first appearance in the red of Munster saw BJ come on as a replacement for John Hayes in a PRO12 win over Scarlets at the old Musgrave Park (now Irish Independent Park) that September.

Less than two months later, on his Heineken Cup debut, the prop became well and truly versed in Munster’s never-say-die attitude when he started in Munster’s famous 23-21 win over Northampton Saints, where, in the 84^th minute, and after 41 phases, Ronan O’Gara kicked a drop goal to steal victory from the Englishmen.

One of Munster’s most consistent performers in recent years, in his first season the former Springbok made 23 appearances, 18 of which were as starting tight-head, including all seven Heineken Cup games. In fact since his arrival, BJ has featured in every European tie for Munster, starting in all but three of the games.

This season – his 14^th of professional rugby – the South African has shown no sign of letting up, playing 28 of Munster’s 29 games to date and gearing up for a Guinness PRO12 Final at a venue that’s well familiar to him – Ulster’s Kingspan Stadium (formerly Ravenhill) in Belfast.

"I enjoy Belfast, it's a great place for me, we often go up there for a family break and I have lots of friends up there outside of rugby circles also. I have great memories of Ravenhill, I really enjoyed my time there and am looking forward to playing there this weekend.”

Botha recently signed a six-month contract extension in March that will see him remain at the province until December of this year. Commenting on the announcement in March, Head Coach Anthony Foley said,

"BJ's contract is up at the end of this season but after working closely with the IRFU we have thankfully secured the services of a player of his calibre for a further six months. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the scrum and front row and it is a huge boost to the squad to have him available during the World Cup window when our squad numbers will be reduced."

Tomorrow’s Guinness PRO12 Final will see BJ bid to win his first piece of silverware with the southern province.

BJ making his Munster debut against Scarlets in Cork, September 2011.