Frano Botica
Encyclopedia
Frano Michael Botica 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.
and Llanelli and spent a period in France. Botica also played rugby league for Wigan Warriors
and Castleford Tigers
.
Botica 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.
He was a part of the first ever New Zealand sevens team to win a Hong Kong Sevens
title.
He is ranked 5th in the top 5 North Harbour legends.
in British league in 1990, where he was a prolific points scorer and the fastest man to reach 1000 points. In 1991 he played for the New Zealand Māori side
in his first match of rugby league
in New Zealand.
During the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season, he played for defending champions Wigan on the wing in their 1991 World Club Challenge
victory against the visiting Penrith Panthers
.
Botica played in seven internationals for the New Zealand Kiwis between 1991 and 1993, including an upset win over the Kangaroos in Melbourne.
During the 1992–93 Rugby Football League season Botica played at stand-off half for defending RFL champions Wigan in the 1992 World Club Challenge
against the visiting Brisbane Broncos
.
After the 1993–94 Rugby Football League season Botica travelled with defending champions Wigan
to Brisbane, playing at five-eighth in their 1994 World Club Challenge
victory over Australian premiers, the Brisbane Broncos
.
Botica set a new record for most goals in a season for Wigan when he kicked 186 during the 1994–95 Rugby Football League season. He also had a season with the Auckland Warriors in 1995 and the Castleford Tigers
in 1996. Despite eventually becoming a league standoff, Botica spent much of his time in the 13-aside code at either wing or fullback.
in New Zealand and played several matches, mainly off the bench.
as a kicking coach. Botica's son Ben is a member of North Harbour's ITM Cup squad and has represented New Zealand Schoolboys.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player who represented his country at both sports and also played for Croatia
Croatia national rugby union team
The Croatia national rugby union team are the national rugby union team of Croatia. They are governed by the Croatian Rugby Union. Croatia have been playing internationals rugby since 1992, they have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.- Internationals :...
in a rugby union world cup qualifying match.
Rugby union
Botica played domestic club rugby union for North HarbourNorth Harbour Rugby Union
The North Harbour Rugby Union , commonly referred to colloquially as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is a provincial rugby team which competes in the ITM Cup , the successor to the country's former domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship .-Area:Harbour Rugby encompasses a...
and Llanelli and spent a period in France. Botica also played rugby league for Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
and Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
.
Botica appeared for New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
(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
British Lions
British Lions may refer to:*Lions , the lion is a traditional symbol of Great Britain, although it also used as a symbol in various other cultures* British Lions , a 1978 album by former members of Mott the Hoople and Medicine Head...
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
Grant Fox
Grant James Fox is a former rugby union player from New Zealand. He was born in New Plymouth. He attended Auckland Grammar school....
for the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
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.
He was a part of the first ever New Zealand sevens team to win a Hong Kong Sevens
Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby sevens—a variant of rugby union....
title.
He is ranked 5th in the top 5 North Harbour legends.
Rugby league
Botica joined the Wigan rugby league clubWigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
in British league in 1990, where he was a prolific points scorer and the fastest man to reach 1000 points. In 1991 he played for the New Zealand Māori side
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
in his first match of rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
in New Zealand.
During the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season, he played for defending champions Wigan on the wing in their 1991 World Club Challenge
1991 World Club Challenge
The 1991 World Club Challenge was contested by 1990–91 RFL Championship winners, Wigan and 1991 NSWRL season premiers, the Penrith Panthers. The match was played on a dry Wednesday the 2nd of October, 1991 at Anfield, Liverpool...
victory against the visiting Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
.
Botica played in seven internationals for the New Zealand Kiwis between 1991 and 1993, including an upset win over the Kangaroos in Melbourne.
During the 1992–93 Rugby Football League season Botica played at stand-off half for defending RFL champions Wigan in the 1992 World Club Challenge
1992 World Club Challenge
The 1992 World Club Challenge match was contested by the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan and the 1992 NSWRL season's premiers, the Brisbane Broncos...
against the visiting Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
.
After the 1993–94 Rugby Football League season Botica travelled with defending champions Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
to Brisbane, playing at five-eighth in their 1994 World Club Challenge
1994 World Club Challenge
The 1994 MMI World Club Challenge was a replay of the 1992 World Club Challenge, with 1993–94 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan facing the 1993 NSWRL season premiers, the Brisbane Broncos, this time in Australia. Wigan were clearly the dominant club in the English game, having won the...
victory over Australian premiers, the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
.
Botica set a new record for most goals in a season for Wigan when he kicked 186 during the 1994–95 Rugby Football League season. He also had a season with the Auckland Warriors in 1995 and the Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
in 1996. Despite eventually becoming a league standoff, Botica spent much of his time in the 13-aside code at either wing or fullback.
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 the North Harbour Rugby UnionNorth Harbour Rugby Union
The North Harbour Rugby Union , commonly referred to colloquially as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is a provincial rugby team which competes in the ITM Cup , the successor to the country's former domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship .-Area:Harbour Rugby encompasses a...
in New Zealand and played several matches, mainly off the bench.
Later years
In 2009 Botica worked with the New Zealand WarriorsNew Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
as a kicking coach. Botica's son Ben is a member of North Harbour's ITM Cup squad and has represented New Zealand Schoolboys.