Ben Botica keeps bouncing back
From Takapuna to French Top 14 Player of the Year, it sure has been some ride for Ben Botica.
The son of former All Blacks first five-eighth Frano is no stranger to bouncing from club to club.
Since leaving New Zealand in 2012, Botica played for French second division side Perigueux en route to four years at London club Harlequins, before landing in Montpellier.
It was there, in the south of France, he endured a tumultuous period after Aaron Cruden’s arrival last year. Not that he holds any grudges.
“That kind of shunted me out, which is fair enough,” Botica says.
He didn’t know it then but fate was on his side.
Out of a job and fearing for his rugby future, Botica jumped at a call from Oyonnax to be a late medical joker signing. Who could have known that path would lead to this?
“It was a godsend,” Botica reflects. “Montpellier was probably the worst part of my career in terms of rugby and not knowing what the hell is going on. It was quite a scary time.
“Lo and behold, it turned out to probably be the best move of my career in terms of being able to be the starting 10 and actually being able to run a team.
“I’ve always been the guy coming off the bench, so Oyonnax gave me a new lease of rugby life and opened a fair few doors for me now.”
Botica led the Top 14 with 318 points last season — kicking around 90 per cent.
“Kicking for me is not a job. It’s not a pressure thing. It’s something I’ve done since I was five-years-old — I just love doing it.”
Despite Oyonnax losing the promotion-relegation playoff against Grenoble, Botica’s form saw him pip French first-five Julien Dumora, who won the title with Castres, and former NRL star turned Bordeaux midfielder Semi Radradra for the Top 14 award voted for by the players.
“I didn’t think about getting player of the season and when I got nominated, I was very shocked. Then last night, they read out my name.
“It was a double-edged sword. I was pretty happy with the way the season went for me but not happy with the team in general. Getting relegated sucks.”
How Botica’s fortunes have changed. In claiming the award, he joins the likes of former All Blacks Victor Vito and Byron Kelleher.
“There’s a pretty elite class of players to have won it, so I was stoked to be put in that category with All Blacks . . . it’s a pretty cool feeling.” The old man is chuffed, too. “He was stoked. I knew it was going to be a tough season coming in and trying to make a mark against these teams and some of the players they have. He always told me to buckle down and grind it out. He was super supportive.”
Botica, sidelined with a six-week ankle injury, is now in his final season at Oyonnax and, given this accolade, unlikely to stay in the second division.
The 28-year-old former New Zealand schoolboys and North Harbour playmaker contemplated a move home but instead indicated Bordeaux could be the next stop on his rollercoaster journey.
“I’ve spoken to the coach there and I like the sound of their plans. I’m just hoping I can go there and help them push into the finals.
“I obviously never played Super Rugby and I always wanted to know what it would be like to get a taste of that. But then I bedded myself so long in England and France, I thought why would I go back? It would only be to make the All Blacks, and that ship has long sailed.
“I don’t see any point in going back right now. I’m still playing a high level of rugby over here . . . and the money isn’t too bad either compared to New Zealand, so that always helps.”