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| Full name | Gary van Ginkel Botha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | (1981-10-12)12 October 1981 (age 43) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Pretoria,South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 106 kg (16 st 10 lb; 234 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Hoërskool Waterkloof | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Gary van Ginkel Botha (born 12 October 1981 inPretoria,South Africa) is a formerrugby union player, that professionally played as ahooker between 2002 and 2013. He spent the majority of his career at his home-town team theBlue Bulls and their affiliatedSuper Rugby team theBulls, but he also had spells at theSharks, at English sideHarlequins and at FrenchTop 14 sideToulouse. He also played in 12 test matches forSouth Africa from 2005 to 2007.[1]
In 2015, he was appointed as a technical consultant for the Blue Bulls forwards.[2]
Botha has won theCurrie Cup with the Blue Bulls, theSuper 14 title with the Bulls and was part of the Springbok squad that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Botha made his debut for the Springboks in 2005, in a match againstAustralia at theLoftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, replacing captainJohn Smit.
Botha has playedrugby league for theSouth African Rhinos at the age of 18.[3]
