BJ Botha
Veteran World Cup-winning prop BJ Botha is happier than ever at Munster and hopes to sign on for another year with the Irish side.
The 35-year-old former Sharks stalwart moved to Ireland in 2008, originally joining Ulster, and made the move to their rivals Munster in 2011.
He said that while he is coming to the end of his career, he still has more to give and has his sights set on earning 100 caps for Munster.
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“In rugby terms, it’s getting to an age where I start to think ‘how many more years left?’ I’m at a good stage in that I’m still enjoying my rugby and enjoying my training, and hopefully still performing at the level that I feel is acceptable, and better still if the coaches back you and most importantly the players you play with.
“I’d like to make 100 for Munster as a personal thing, although I’m not the type of bloke that keeps track of that. If it’s 100, it’s 100. But I also want to add to the team and show I can still play,” he said.
Having settled in Ireland, Botha is intent on seeing out his career with Munster before finally calling it a day.
“The other day I was thinking how quick it’s gone, but I think that means you’ve enjoyed it. It’s a big part of your life when you’ve made it your home, which it is, because for our children, we go to South Africa ‘on holidays’, to see grandma and grandpa, and then we come ‘home’. They’ve got all their friends and school here,” he said.
The grizzled tighthead said that he feels he still has plenty to give and has been encouraged by the environment at Munster.
“I think it shows that I’m still enjoying it. I still have the drive to perform and the drive to perform and achieve as a team. That’s the nice thing about Munster; you keep on driving and upping the levels even more,” he said.