Frano Michael Botica (born 3 August 1963 in Mangakino, New Zealand) is a former Rugby Union and Rugby League player who represented his country at both sports and also played for Croatia in a rugby union world cup qualifying match.

[edit] Rugby Union

Botica played domestic club rugby union for North Harbour and Llanelli and a period in France. He also played rugby league for Wigan Warriors and Castleford Tigers.

Botica also appeared for New Zealand Māori (between 1985 and 1989), New Zealand Emerging Players (1985), North Island in the 1986 inter-island match, the national sevens side in eight international tournaments between 1985 and 1988 and for the Anzac XV that played the British Lions in Australia in 1989. He even appeared in the Super 12: once for the Chiefs in 1998.

In the early part of his Rugby Union career he was a rival to Grant Fox for the All Blacks number 10 jersey. Botica was regarded as more a running player whereas Fox was considered a superior kicker and it was his rival who eventually won the selectors favour, forcing Botica to the bench and restricting the number of Union tests he played.

[edit] Rugby League

He joined Wigan rugby league club in British league in 1990, where he was a prolific points scorer and the fastest man to reach 1000 points, which could be considered ironic as it was his perceived lack of place kicking skill which restricted his appearances in Rugby Union for the All Blacks. Botica played in seven internationals for the Kiwis in 1991-93, including an upset win over the Kangaroos in Melbourne. He also had a season with the Warriors in 1995. Despite eventually becoming a league standoff, Botica spent much of his time in the 13-aside code at either wing or fullback.

[edit] Return to Union

When rugby union became openly professional Botica returned to the 15-aside code to play for Llanelli in Wales and then in France. And in the late 1990s he even played for Croatia in a World Cup qualifying match. In his late 30's he returned for North Harbour in New Zealand and played several matches, mainly off the bench.

[edit] Later years

He is currently working for the New Zealand Warriors as a kicking coach.^[1]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• All Blacks Profile
• Frano Botica at rugbymuseum.co.nz

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