Former Springbok flyhalf Naas Botha has relocated to the United States, where he is beginning a new chapter while remaining connected to sport and the South African community abroad.
According to The South African, Botha (68) and his wife, Karen, have settled in Kansas, largely to be closer to their daughters, Gaeby and Lee-gre, who moved to the US after earning athletic scholarships. Both daughters are talents soccer players.
Both daughters have pursued soccer in the American collegiate system. Gaeby previously played for Kansas State University, while Lee-gre followed a similar sporting pathway.
Rugby icon
Botha is widely regarded as one of the finest flyhalves in South African rugby history.
During his international career with the Springboks, he earned 28 Test caps and scored 312 points, gaining a reputation as one of the most reliable goal kickers of his era.
He captained the Springboks in nine of his 28 Tests and scored two tries – against the New Zealand Cavaliers at Loftus Versfeld and a World Invitation side at Newlands.
Botha was on the winning side in 19 of his Tests, and lost nine, for a win percentage of 67.9%.
He is a four-time winner of the South African Rugby Player of the Year award and was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2015.
At provincial level, he spent the bulk of his career with Northern Transvaal – now known as the Blue Bulls – where he played 179 matches, including 128 as captain, and scored 2 511 points, including 1 699 points in the Currie Cup.
Continued involvement in sport
Although he has moved abroad, Botha remains active in sport.
Reports suggest he has been assisting local sports programmes in Kansas, sharing his expertise in kicking techniques and performance mindset.
He has also continued contributing to South African rugby discussions remotely, occasionally appearing on podcasts and interviews to offer analysis and insight.
Life after professional rugby
Following his retirement from professional rugby, Botha remained involved in the game in several capacities.
He coached the South Africa national under-20 rugby union team in 2002 and has worked extensively in the media as a rugby analyst for SuperSport.
He also spent time developing school rugby structures after being appointed Director of Rugby at Hoërskool Eldoraigne.
Botha was for many years also a popular rugby commentator on SuperSport.
Interestingly, Botha’s latest move echoes an earlier chapter of his sporting journey.
In the mid-1980s, he briefly explored a career in American football with the Dallas Cowboys as a specialist kicker before ultimately returning to rugby and cementing his legacy as one of South Africa’s most celebrated players.
His wife Karen, a former Springbok long jumper, also has American collegiate sporting connections through her own athletic career. The couple have three daughters, Kayla, Gaeby and Lee-gre.
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