{{short description|South African rugby union player}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox rugby union biography | name = Renier Botha | image = | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|09|28}} | birth_place = Bloemfontein, South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.73}} | weight = {{convert|73|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = Diamantveld High School, Kimberley | university = University of the Free State | relatives = | position = Scrum-half | currentclub = | youthyears1 = 2010 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Griquas}} | youthyears2 = 2013 | youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}} | youthyears3 = 2013 | youthclubs3 = → {{Rut|Griquas}} | years1 = 2014–2016 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Free State XV}} | apps1 = 14 | points1 = 15 | years2 = 2014 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Cheetahs}} | apps2 = 1 | points2 = 0 | years3 = 2016–2018 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Griquas}} | apps3 = 31 | points3 = 50 | amatyears1 = 2013–2016 | amatteam1 = {{Rut|UFS Shimlas}} | amatapps1 = 17 | amatpoints1 = 15 | clubupdate = 30 April 2018 }}
'''Renier Botha''' (born 28 September 1992) is a South African professional rugby union player who last played for{{Rut|Griquas}} in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge.<ref name="SARU Player Profile Renier Botha">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=51601 | name=Renier Botha | date=29 May 2016}}</ref> His regular position is scrum-half.
==Career==
===Youth and Varsity rugby===
After playing high school rugby with Kimberley-based Diamantveld High School, Botha was included in the {{Rut|Griquas}} squad for the 2010 Under-18 Craven Week tournament in Welkom.<ref name="Van Niekerk lei GW op Cravenweek">{{cite web | url=http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2010/05/17/VB/17/hngriekwa.html | title=Van Niekerk lei GW op Cravenweek | work=Volksblad | date=17 May 2010 | access-date=13 May 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514003059/http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2010/05/17/VB/17/hngriekwa.html | archive-date=14 May 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> He also made one appearance for the {{Rut|Griquas U19}} side in the Under-19 provincial championships.<ref name="24 uur">{{cite web | url=http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2010/08/20/VB/15/vbkort20.html | title=24 uur | work=Volksblad | date=20 August 2010 | access-date=13 May 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513225349/http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2010/08/20/VB/15/vbkort20.html | archive-date=13 May 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
Botha went to the University of the Free State, playing club rugby for them and making their Varsity Cup squad for the 2013 Varsity Cup. He made four starts for the side, scoring one try against the {{Rut|NWU Pukke}}.<ref name="FNB Shimlas 38-18 FNB NWU-Pukke">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=100994 | homeid=10684 | awayid=10634 | leagueid=1084 | hometeam=FNB Shimlas | homescore=38 | awayscore=18 | awayteam=FNB NWU-Pukke | matchdate=4 March 2013 | date=2 December 2016}}</ref> Towards the end of the season, Botha also made three appearances for former side {{Rut|Griquas U21}} in the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship competition, playing as a centre.
Botha didn't make the {{Rut|UFS Shimlas}} squad for the 2014 Varsity Cup,<ref name="Horak verklein Shimlas-groep tot 33 spelers">{{cite web | url=http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2014/01/20/18/jtshimlas_30_0_78789570.html | title=Horak verklein Shimlas-groep tot 33 spelers | work=Volksblad | date=20 January 2014 | access-date=13 May 2014 | language=Afrikaans | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514000404/http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2014/01/20/18/jtshimlas_30_0_78789570.html | archive-date=14 May 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> instead playing Vodacom Cup rugby for the {{Rut|Free State XV}}.
===Free State Cheetahs===
Botha made his first class debut during the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition, eventually playing in all eight matches of the {{Rut|Free State XV}}'s season. He started their opening match of the season against the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}<ref name="Toyota Free State XV 52-47 SWD Eagles">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=117804 | homeid=17564 | awayid=17594 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=Toyota Free State XV | homescore=52 | awayscore=47 | awayteam=SWD Eagles | matchdate=8 March 2014 | date=2 December 2016}}</ref> and scored his first points in senior rugby when he got a try shortly before half-time in their match against the {{Rut|Sharks XV}},<ref name="Toyota Free State XV 22-23 Cell C Sharks XV">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=117954 | homeid=17564 | awayid=17584 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=Toyota Free State XV | homescore=22 | awayscore=23 | awayteam=Cell C Sharks XV | matchdate=21 March 2014 | date=2 December 2016}}</ref> one of three tries he scored during the campaign.
With no Currie Cup experience, Botha was a surprise inclusion on the bench for the {{Rut|Cheetahs}}' match against the {{Rut|Brumbies}} during the 2014 Super Rugby season. He got the opportunity due to an injury to first choice scrum-half Sarel Pretorius and with {{Rut|Griquas}} scrum-half Tian Meyer being involved in the 2014 Vodacom Cup final.<ref name="Van Shimlas tot Super-rugby vir Renier">{{cite web | url=http://www.beeld.com/sport/2014-05-12-van-shimlas-tot-super-rugby-vir-renier | title=Van Shimlas tot Super-rugby vir Renier | work=Beeld | date=12 May 2014 | access-date=13 May 2014}}</ref>
===Griquas===
Botha moved to Kimberley during 2016 to join {{Rut|Griquas}}.<ref name="Griekwas span oud-Leeu teen Luiperds in">{{cite news | url=http://www.netwerk24.com/Sport/Rugby/griekwas-gaan-oud-leeu-teen-luiperds-inspan-20160718 | title=Griekwas span oud-Leeu teen Luiperds in | work=Netwerk24 | date=19 July 2016 | access-date=19 July 2016 | language=Afrikaans}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Botha, Renier}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Cheetahs (rugby union) players Category:Rugby union players from Bloemfontein Category:South African rugby union players Category:Rugby union scrum-halves Category:21st-century South African sportsmen Category:Alumni of Diamantveld High School