{{Short description|NZ rugby union player}} {{Use British English|date=November 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Ben Botica | image = Ben Botica.jpg | birth_name = Benjamin Botica | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|10|7|df=y}} | birth_place = Takapuna, New Zealand | height = {{convert|180|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name=Versatile>{{cite web|url=http://www.quins.co.uk/news/6187.php|title=Versatile, young New Zealand back signs for Harlequins|publisher=quins.co.uk|date=17 April 2012|accessdate=11 November 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626004719/http://www.quins.co.uk/news/6187.php|archivedate=26 June 2012}}</ref> | weight = {{convert|85|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} | occupation = Rugby union player | relatives = *Frano Botica (Father) *Jacob Botica (Brother) | position = Fly-Half, Centre | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = North Shore Rugby Club<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10506449|title = Rugby: Botica happily filling father's famous boots}}</ref> | years1 = 2011–2012 | years2 = 2012–2016 | years3 = 2016 | years4 = 2017–2019 | years5 = 2019–2021 | years6 = 2021–2023 | years7 = 2023- | clubs1 = Périgueux | clubs2 = Harlequins | clubs3 = Montpellier | clubs4 = Oyonnax | clubs5 = Bordeaux Bègles | clubs6 = Castres | clubs7 = Soyaux Angoulême | apps1 = 18 | apps2 = 95 | apps3 = 9 | apps4 = 50 | apps5 = 17 | apps6 = 0 | points1 = 208 | points2 = 551 | points3 = 65 | points4 = 687 | points5 = 106 | points6 = 0 | ru_clubupdate = 6 December 2019 | superyears1 = | super1 = | superapps1 = | superpoints1 = | provinceyears1 = 2009–2012 | province1 = North Harbour | provinceapps1 = 17 | provincepoints1 = 168 | repyears1 = | repteam1 = | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | repsevensyears1 = | repsevenscomp1 = }} '''Ben Botica''' (born 7 October 1989,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/newzealand/rugby/player/102705.html|title = Benjamin Frano Kenny Botica}}</ref> Takapuna) is a New Zealand rugby union player. A fly-half or centre, he plays for French club Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente.
The son of the New Zealand international Frano Botica, he played rugby at school and was selected to play for the New Zealand Schoolboys team.<ref name=QuinsBio>{{cite web|url=http://www.quins.co.uk/team/players/ben-botica|title=Harlequins biography|publisher=quins.co.uk|accessdate=7 January 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107231636/http://www.quins.co.uk/team/players/ben-botica|archivedate=7 January 2015}}</ref> In 2008, he spent a year in France where he played with the Espoirs (Academy) team of Biarritz Olympique.<ref name=itsrugby>{{cite web|url=http://www.itsrugby.fr/joueur_15872.html|title=Fiche Joueur|publisher=itsrugby.fr|accessdate=11 November 2012}}</ref>
He then returned to New Zealand where he joined North Harbour. He played his first professional match in August 2009 against Southland in the Air New Zealand Cup.<ref name=Harbour>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/2791106/Botica-Jr-lines-up-for-Harbour|title=Botica Jr lines up for Harbour|publisher=stuff.co.nz|date=25 August 2009|accessdate=11 November 2012}}</ref> In 2011, he narrowly missed out on selection for the Auckland Blues franchise and the chance to play in Super Rugby.<ref name=QuinsBio/> He returned to France where he played the 2011-2012 Pro D2 season with CA Périgueux.<ref name=itsrugby/>
Late in the season, it was announced that he had signed a two-year contract with Harlequins<ref name=Versatile/> although he actually signed in October 2011.<ref name=espn>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/newzealand/rugby/story/162880.html|title=Harlequins bring in Kiwi fly-half|publisher=espnscrum.com|date=17 April 2012|accessdate=11 November 2012}}</ref> As a British passport holder, he did not count as a foreign player. In his initial season with Harlequins, he was the top points scorer (with 78) in the LV Cup.<ref name="ITS Stats">{{cite web|url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/stats-englishcup-2012.html|title=Anglo-Welsh Cup : Stat 2012/2013|publisher=itsrugby.co.uk|accessdate=18 March 2013}}</ref>
In his final game at Harlequins, the 2016 European Challenge Cup Final, Botica came on as a replacement to face the club he was about to join. With time nearly up and Quins trailing by 7 points he kicked the ball to Montpellier who put it into touch to end the game. Most had expected him to keep the ball live and mount one final attack to attempt to level the scores and take it to extra time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ruck.co.uk/stupid-decision-ben-botica-erases-quins-dreams/|title = A stupid decision from Ben Botica erases Quins dreams|date = 13 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/watch-harlequins-lose-european-final-after-last-minute-brain-freeze-59316|title = Watch Harlequins lose European final after last-minute brain freeze}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/harlequins-ben-botica-inconsolable-last-7967071|title=Harlequins Ben Botica inconsolable as blunder seals European Cup for Montpellier|website=Daily Mirror|date=14 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://punditarena.com/rugby/thepateam/supporters-cant-understand-ben-botica-surrendered-possession-hand-montpellier-victory/|title=Supporters Can't Understand Why Ben Botica Surrendered Possession to Hand Montpellier Victory|date=13 May 2016}}</ref> It was Head Coach Conor O'Shea's last game for the club.
Botica joined Montpellier in 2016 and moved to Oyonnax in 2017.
On 16 November 2020, Botica would sign for French rivals Castres on a two-year deal from the 2021–22 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/transferts/2018-2019/top-14-castres-ben-botica-debarque-pour-trois-saisons_sto7995665/story.shtml|publisher=Rugbyrama.fr|title=Castres : Botica débarque pour trois saisons|date=16 November 2020|accessdate=5 April 2021|language=fr}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Botica, Ben}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:North Harbour rugby union players Category:Rugby union fly-halves Category:Rugby union centres Category:Harlequin F.C. players Category:Oyonnax Rugby players Category:Union Bordeaux Bègles players Category:New Zealand people of Croatian descent Category:Castres Olympique players Category:CA Périgueux players Category:Rugby union players from Auckland Category:People from Takapuna Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in France Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in England Category:Montpellier Hérault Rugby players