John Botha

Biography

John Botha was a big man who, according to a well-known story, was picked for the deciding 1903 Test against the British Isles after the selectors spotted him in a Cape Town tea room. He won his only cap in that 8–0 win at Newlands, which gave South Africa its first series victory.

Born in Cape Town on 19 November 1879, he came from a family of gunsmiths, played for Hamiltons, and was also a clarinettist. He died on his farm near Standerton on 8 December 1920, struck by lightning.