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'He is the most respected individual I've ever seen inside the All Blacks'
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Springbok Botha agrees Pro D2 move
By Josh Raisey
Former South Africa flanker Arno Botha has signed for Pro D2 outfit Nevers ahead of next season.
The 34-year-old will make the move north west from Lyon when the Top 14 season draws to a close, signing on a two-year deal.
Botha made the move to Lyon in 2022 following two years at the Bulls, in what was his second stint in Pretoria after starting his career there. It was during his first stint at the Bulls that the flanker earned his two Springboks caps in 2013.
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He made the move to London Irish in 2018 before a two-season spell at Munster, where he played alongside current Nevers prop Keynan Knox.
Given how the Pro D2 promotion format works, Botha could well be playing in the Top 14 next season. While Nevers are currently sitting in ninth place in the league, three places off the top six that go into the play-offs, they are only three points behind sixth-place Aurillac, with over half the season to play.
Lyon, meanwhile, sit in 12th place in the Top 14 with 23 points, but they are in no danger of being dragged into a relegation battle, as Montauban, in 13th, trail them by 13 points, and Perpignan are 22 points behind at the foot of the table.
Karim Ghezal’s side are fresh from the opening rounds of their Challenge Cup campaign, where they suffered losses against Dragons and Newcastle Red Bulls, who are both yet to register a win in their respective leagues, the United Rugby Championship and the Gallagher PREM.
Botha did not feature in the round one loss to the Red Bulls, but featured from the bench the following week against Dragons.
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