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Jacob Botica - son of legendary Frano - has moved to France following release by Dragons
By Online Editors
Jacob Botica, son of dual-code New Zealand international Frano, has returned to France to extend his playing career following the end of his two-year stint at Dragons, the Welsh Guinness PRO14 outfit.
The arrival of coach Dean Ryan along with the Wales out-half Sam Davies last summer resulted in the Dragons becoming a much-changed set-up from the Bernard Jackman-led organisation that Botica joined in 2018 after impressing with RGC in the Welsh Premiership.
He made ten appearances under Ryan but the out-half now opted to try his luck back in France where he previously played with Saint-Jean d’Angely and Saint-Medard in Federale 1 either side of a season with Agen in Pro D2. His sojourn in Wales included some game time with the Scarlets in 2017/18.
It is Federale 1 level that the Wigan-born Botica is returning to, the 27-year-old brother of Bordeaux’s Ben taking up an offer with Rennes.
Speaking about the signing, Rennes boss Kevin Courties said: “We went through a network of agents to find an out-half and that is how we were put in contact with Jacob. He wanted to come back to France to the club culture that is looking to impose a rather ambitious game based on movement.
“He is a goalscorer, an attacker who seeks to play high on the line. We like it. Jacob is also an experienced player who remains relatively young. I’m not worried about his adaptation to the group and the championship.”
Rennes is located less than a five-hour drive from Botica's brother Ben in Bordeaux who has featured for Oyonnax and Montpellier in the Top 14 following his move from Harlequins in 2016 after four seasons in the Premiership.
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I think we need to get innovative with the new laws.
Now red cards are only 20 minutes, Razor should send Finau on a head hunting mission to hospitalise their 10 with a shoulder to the chops.
Give the conspiracy theorists a win.
Go to commentsEngland played well enough to win but couldnt score when they needed to and couldnt defend a couple of X-Factor moments from Telea which was ultimately the difference. They needed to hold the ball more and make the AB's make more tackles. Territorially they were good for the first 60. Defending their lead and playing pragmatic rugby in the last 20 was silly. The AB's always had the potential to come back. England still have a long way to go, definite progress would have been shown had they won but it seems they are still stuck where they were shortly after the six nations and their tour to NZ
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