FNB CUT Ixias tighthead prop Janu Botha will join Griquas after this year's FNB Varsity Cup.
Botha quit rugby two-and-a-half years ago to become a chef, but the Covid-19 pandemic prompted his return to the game.
Last November, the 124kg front-ranker got a call from FNB CUT team manager Skillie Bester, who said they were looking for a tighthead. After sitting down with head coach Pieter Bergh, Botha decided that he still had a point to prove on the rugby field and committed himself to their 2021 campaign.
And prove it he has. The 25-year-old has starred for a CUT side that won their first four matches of the FNB Varsity Cup season.
As a result, Botha was offered a life-changing contract with Griquas that runs until the end of 2022.
“It's great to have Janu coming on board," Griquas coach Scott Mathie told OFM Sport. "He has been through the process of playing in the Varsity Cup for a few years [having previously played for FNB UFS Shimlas].
“The work he has been doing, especially this year, is starting to pay off. We think it's the right time for him to get a chance at the next level.
“He is going to bring energy [to Griquas] and he has a lot of potential with regard to scrummaging, so we look forward to that.”
FNB CUT's next FNB Varsity Cup clash is against FNB Maties on Friday (14:00, DStv Now, channel 245).
Photos: Catherine Kotze/Varsity Cup
