PRETORIA – The sudden resignation of former Springbok hooker and scrum doctor Gary Botha has further exacerbated the need for the Bulls to appoint a Super Rugby coach and chief executive officer.
Botha tendered in his resignation this week for a job away from rugby but it has left the Bulls thin in their senior team management structure which was thrown into disarray after the departure of John Mitchell last month.
“Gary is an absolute legend of the game, both on and off the field. His passion and intensity as a player easily transferred over to his role as part of our coaching team.
“He has always been open and honest with us about his career ambitions, and we would like to wish him every success with this new phase of his life,” said Blue Bulls Company CEO Barend van Graan yesterday.
Gary Botha in his playing days in action for the springboks. Photo: Kim Ludbrook/EPA
Having played all of his rugby for the Bulls from age group level to being part of the golden generation that won three Super Rugby titles and was also a member of the 2007 Springboks World Cup winning squad, Botha played a prominent role in honing the skills of Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane and Lizo Gqoboka while his influence also filtered through to the junior teams at Loftus.
“It was a tough decision, but I felt it was time for me to enter the next phase of my life and professional career. I would like to humbly thank my wife, kids, and everybody that has played a role in giving me the opportunity to be part of this beautiful game.
“It’s been a massive privilege for me to be able to re-invest some of my learnings back into the boys at Loftus. Rugby will always be one of my true loves and I would always be keen to be involved with youth rugby,” Botha said.