Mouritz Botha

Mouritz Botha has been reluctantly released by Saracens to join The Sharks in South Africa, with effect from 1 January 2015.

Mark McCall, Director of Rugby, said: “Mouritz has been a massive part of our squad and our culture for the past five and a half seasons, and we are very sorry to see him leave. However, this is a great opportunity to play for one of the top teams in the Super XV, and we wish him, Natasha and young Joshua well.”

Botha joined Saracens from Bedford Blues in 2009, has played 142 matches for the club and has also been capped 10 times by England.

saracens

The blond lock forward, 32, said: “Saracens will always be important to me, and it’s difficult to leave so many friends in what remains a unique sporting environment, but the Sharks are trying to build something special in Durban. This will be a great rugby challenge for me, and a great adventure for my young family.”

Mouritz Botha

Position: Second Row
Born: 29 Jan 1982
Height: 6ft 6ins (1.98m)
Weight: 18st (115kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2009
Previous Clubs: Bedford Blues
Honours: England (10 caps), England Saxons
Debut: vs London Irish (5/9/09)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 142

Mouritz Botha started the 2009/10 season having just signed from National League One side Bedford Blues, but just two years later he had lifted the Premiership title and became a mainstay of the England side.

The 6ft 6in lock forward was one of the cornerstones of the Bedford Blues pack where he made 57 appearances after joining the club in 2006 after being spotted rising through the ranks at Bedford Athletic. Botha, who was born in Vryheid, South Africa, helped Saracens to win the Aviva Premiership title for the first time in May 2011, having played club rugby in Cape Town and arrived in the UK in October 2004. He is now qualified by residence.

After signing to play for Bedford Athletic in what was then National Three North, he worked as an office assistant before being made redundant and then found a temporary job in a carpet washing factory and did six tonnes of them each day.

Next up was stripping asbestos out of houses in Bedford. By then his club had been relegated to Midlands One but Botha continued to play there until Bedford Blues awarded him a full time contract and he made 57 appearances for the Goldington Road club before signing for Saracens in 2009-10.

As a stand out player for the Blues, he had won East Midlands’ selection for the 2009 Mobbs Memorial match against the Barbarians. His first England cap was off the bench against Wales at Twickenham ahead of the 2011 World Cup. He missed out on selection but when on to play in all five of England’s 2012 Six Nations matches and was part of the summer touring party to South Africa later that year.