View source for Frano Botica

{{Short description|NZ dual-code international Rugby player}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name               = Frano Botica
| caption            =
| birth_name         = Frano Michael Botica
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1963|8|3|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Mangakino]], New Zealand
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| relatives          = [[Ben Botica]] (son)<br>[[Jacob Botica]] (son)
| school             = [[Westlake Boys High School]]
| height             = {{convert|175|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight             = {{convert|75|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| ru_position        = [[Rugby union positions#Fly-half|First five-eighth]]
| repyears1          = 1986–1989 | repteam1    = [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]]
| repyears2          = 1997–1998 | repteam2    = [[Croatia national rugby union team|Croatia]]
| repcaps1           = 7         | reppoints1  = 6
| repcaps2           = 2         | reppoints2  = 
| years1             =           | clubs1       = [[North Shore Rugby Football Club|North Shore]]
| apps1              =           | points1      = 
| superyears1        = 1998      | super1       = [[Waikato Chiefs|Chiefs]]
| superapps1         = 1         | superpoints1 = 
| province1          = [[North Harbour Rugby Union|North Harbour]]
| provinceyears1     = 1985–2001
| provinceapps1      = 88
| provincepoints1    = 
| module = {{infobox rugby league biography 
| embed           = yes
| position        = {{rlp|FB|wg|fe}}
| teamA           = {{nowrap|[[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]]}}
| yearAstart      = 1991 
| yearAend        = 1993
| appearancesA    = 7
| triesA          = 0
| goalsA          = 25
| fieldgoalsA     = 0
| pointsA         = 50
| club1           = [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]
| year1start      = 1990 
| year1end        = 1995
| appearances1    = 179 
| tries1          = 65
| goals1          = 817
| fieldgoals1     = 13
| points1         = 1931
| club2           = [[Auckland Warriors|Auckland]]
| year2start      = 1995
| appearances2    = 5   
| tries2          = 2
| goals2          = 19
| fieldgoals2     = 0
| points2         = 46
| club3           = [[Castleford Tigers|Castleford]]
| year3start      = 1996
| appearances3    = 21  
| tries3          = 5
| goals3          = 84
| fieldgoals3     = 2
| points3         = 190
}}
}}

'''Frano Michael Botica''' (born 3 August 1963) is a New Zealand-Croatian [[rugby union]] and [[rugby league]] coach<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/frano-botica/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/frano-botica/summary.html|title=Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref> and former player in both codes, who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He is the head coach of the [[Philippines national rugby sevens team|Philippines sevens team]].

He represented New Zealand at [[List of dual-code rugby internationals|both codes]], and later also played for [[Croatia national rugby union team|Croatia]] in two rugby union World Cup qualifying matches.

==Rugby union==
Born in [[Mangakino]], New Zealand, Botica played rugby union for club side North Shore, New Zealand provincial side [[North Harbour Rugby Union|North Harbour]], as well as [[Llanelli RFC|Llanelli]] in Wales, and spent a period in France.

Botica played 7 test matches between 1986 and 1989 including two test matches in France. Botica was a member of the All Blacks World Cup winning squad of 1987 and toured with the All Blacks to Britain in 1989 and played in several of the mid-week matches.

Botica appeared for the [[New Zealand Māori rugby union team|New Zealand Māori]] (1985-1989), New Zealand Emerging Players (1985), North Island in the 1986 inter-island match and for the Anzac XV that played the [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]] in Australia in 1989. He even appeared in the Super 12, once for the Chiefs in 1998.

He played for New Zealand sevens in eight international tournaments between 1985 and 1988, and was part of the first New Zealand team to win a [[Hong Kong Sevens]] title in 1986.

In the early part of his rugby union career he was a rival to [[Grant Fox]] for the [[All Blacks]] [[Rugby union positions#Fly-half|number 10]] jersey. Botica was regarded as more a running player whereas Fox was considered a superior kicker and it was Fox who eventually won the selectors' favour, forcing Botica to the bench and restricting the number of rugby union tests he played. Ironically, after switching codes Botica became known as one of the most dependable goal-kickers in rugby league.

==Rugby league==

===Club career===
Botica joined [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] in [[Rugby Football League|British rugby league]] in 1990. While at Wigan he became a prolific points scorer and the fastest man in the history of British league to reach 1,000 points.

In 1991 he played for the [[New Zealand Māori rugby league team|New Zealand Māori side]] in his first match of [[rugby league]] in New Zealand.<ref>Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1991 ''New Zealand Rugby League'', 1991. p.116</ref>

During the [[1991–92 Rugby Football League season|1991–92 season]], he played for defending champions Wigan on the wing in their 21–4 victory against the visiting Australian champions [[Penrith Panthers|Penrith]] in the [[1991 World Club Challenge]] played at [[Anfield]] in [[Liverpool]].

During the [[1992–93 Rugby Football League season|1992-93 season]], Botica played at {{rlp|FE}} for Wigan in the [[1992 World Club Challenge]] against the [[1992 NSWRL season|1992 Winfield Cup]] premiers, the [[Brisbane Broncos]]. Brisbane became the first Australian side to win the [[World Club Challenge]] in [[England]] when they defeated Wigan 22–8 at Wigan's [[Central Park (Wigan)|Central Park]].

Botica played {{rlp|so}}, and kicked every point in Wigan's 5–4 victory over [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] in the [[1992 Lancashire Cup]] Final.<ref name="1992-1993 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=2745|title=1992–1993 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2014|access-date=1 January 2015|archive-date=13 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713170348/http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=2745|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He scored 3 conversions in Wigan's 15–8 victory over [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford Northern]] in the [[1992–93 League Cup (rugby league)|1992–93 Regal Trophy]] Final,<ref name="23 January 1993: Bradford 8 Wigan 15 (Regal Trophy Final)">{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=3004|title=23rd January 1993: Bradford 8 Wigan 15 (Regal Trophy Final)|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2014|access-date=1 January 2015|archive-date=19 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619140552/http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=3004|url-status=dead}}</ref> and scored a [[Try (rugby)|conversion]] in the 2–33 defeat by [[Castleford Tigers|Castleford]] in the [[1993–94 League Cup (rugby league)|1993–94 Regal Trophy]] Final and scored a [[Try (rugby)|try]] and 8 conversions in the 40–10 victory over [[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]] in the [[1994–95 League Cup (rugby league)|1994–95 Regal Trophy]] Final.<ref name="28 January 1995: Warrington 10 Wigan 40 (Regal Trophy Final)">{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=2931|title=28th January 1995: Warrington 10 Wigan 40 (Regal Trophy Final)|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2014|access-date=1 January 2015|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714151036/http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=2931|url-status=dead}}</ref> Frano Botica holds the records for the most conversions (8) and points (16) in a [[League Cup (rugby league)|Regal Trophy]] (or precursors) Final.

Botica played in the [[1994 World Club Challenge]] against the Broncos again, this time at the [[Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre|ANZ Stadium]] in [[Brisbane]]. Wigan reversed the 1992 result with a 20–14 win in front of a WCC record attendance of 54,220 fans, including a number of Wigan supporters who had travelled to Australia to watch the game. Known as a very accurate goal kicker, Botica kicked four goals from four attempts on the night.

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]].<ref>[http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=75 "RECORDS"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128221032/http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=75|date=28 November 2010}} at ''wiganwarriors.com''</ref> He returned to New Zealand to play for the [[Auckland Warriors]] during their inaugural year in [[1995 ARL season|1995]], before returning to England to play for the [[Castleford Tigers]] in 1996.<ref>[http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/rugby-league/Will-our-homegrown-talent-win.4960110.jp Will our home-grown talent win the battle with foreign imports?] ''Yorkshire Post'', 9 February 2009</ref>

===International===
Botica played in seven internationals for [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]] between 1991 and 1993.

He made his test début at {{rlp|FB}} against [[France national rugby league team|France]] at [[Carlaw Park]] in [[Auckland]] on 13 June 1991, kicking eight goals as the Kiwis thrashed the visitors 60–6. He then backed that up with a 6-goal performance in the second test in [[Christchurch]]. His selection had seen him flown in from England for the series after a dispute between the [[New Zealand Rugby League]] and Manly-Warringah over compensation saw in-form test incumbent Matthew Ridge become unavailable. This dispute, and his own solid form, saw Botica keep his spot for the first test of the [[1991 Trans-Tasman Test series]] against [[Australian Kangaroos|Australia]] in [[Melbourne]] where he kicked four goals and helped the Kiwis to a shock 24–8 win over the Kangaroos. Botica played fullback for the Kiwis in all three tests of the series, eventually won 2–1 by Australia who easily won the second test 44–0 at the [[Sydney Football Stadium (1988)|Sydney Football Stadium]] before wrapping up the series with a 40–12 win at [[Lang Park]] in [[Brisbane]]. The goal kicking Kiwi fullback won praise from Australian coach [[Bob Fulton]] who proclaimed that he could play as well as any fullback in the [[Winfield Cup]] ([[NSWRL]] Premiership). Botica kicked six goals from eight attempts (75%) during the test series.

Botica's last two tests came during the Kiwis' [[1993 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France|1993 Tour of Great Britain and France]]. He played on the wing during the last two tests of the series against the [[Great Britain Lions]] at his home ground of [[Central Park (Wigan)|Central Park]] in [[Wigan]] and at [[Headingley Rugby Stadium|Headingley]] in [[Leeds]], though the Lions, who had won the first test at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] 17–0, went on to win the series 3–0. He was not selected for the test against France at the end of the tour and would never again play a test for the Kiwis.

Despite eventually becoming a five-eighth in rugby league, Botica spent much of his early time in the 13-aside code, including five of his seven tests for New Zealand, at fullback or on the wing.

==Return to union==
When rugby union became openly professional, Botica returned to the 15-a-side code to play for Llanelli in Wales and then in France. In 1997 and 1998 he played for Croatia in two World Cup qualifying matches. In his late 30s he returned for the [[North Harbour Rugby Union]] in New Zealand and played several matches, mainly off the bench.

==Later years==
In 2009 Botica worked with the [[New Zealand Warriors]] as a kicking coach.<ref>[http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/85/premiers-stopped---vodafone-warriors-26-manly-24 Premiers stopped – Vodafone Warriors 26, Manly 24] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325080737/http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/85/premiers-stopped---vodafone-warriors-26-manly-24 |date=25 March 2009 }} ''Warriors Official Site'', 22 March 2009</ref> Botica's son [[Ben Botica|Ben]] is a former member of North Harbour's ITM Cup squad, has represented [[Rugby union in New Zealand#Schoolboys|New Zealand Schoolboys]],<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/2791106/Botica-Jr-lines-up-for-Harbour
|title=Botica Jr lines up for Harbour
|date=25 August 2009
|work=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]]
|access-date=20 November 2011
}}</ref> and formerly played for Aviva Premiership side [[Harlequin F.C.]]<ref>{{cite news
 |url         = http://www.quins.co.uk/news/6187.php
 |title       = VERSATILE, YOUNG NEW ZEALAND BACK SIGNS FOR HARLEQUINS
 |date        = 17 April 2012
 |work        = [www.quins.co.uk]
 |access-date  = 17 April 2012
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120626004719/http://www.quins.co.uk/news/6187.php
 |archive-date = 26 June 2012}}</ref> Another of Botica's sons, [[Jacob Botica|Jacob]], played for Welsh regional sides [[Dragons (rugby union)|Dragons]] and [[Scarlets]] in the [[United Rugby Championship]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Dragons: RGC 1404 duo Tiaan Loots & Jacob Botica sign |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43977567 |website=BBC Sport |date=2 May 2018}}</ref>

In 2016, Botica became head coach of the [[Philippines national rugby sevens team]].<ref name="stuffconz">{{cite news|last1=Carson|first1=Jonathan|title=From the streets to the stadium: The rugby boy of Manila|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/80457212/From-the-streets-to-the-stadium-The-rugby-boy-of-Manila|access-date=29 May 2016|work=stuff.co.nz|publisher=Fairfax New Zealand Limited|date=29 May 2016}}</ref> He is a real estate agent, working in Auckland.<ref name="Profile at nzwarriors.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.nzwarriors.com/player-profiles/frano-botica.78|title=Profile at nzwarriors.com|publisher=nzwarriors.com|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/Profile.asp?ABID=75 All Blacks Profile]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081016013050/http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/ABProfilee.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&IDID=75 Frano Botica at rugbymuseum.co.nz]
*[http://thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/playerprofile.php?pid=233 Statistics ar thecastlefordtigers.co.uk]

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Buck Shelford]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Tom French Cup|Tom French Memorial<br>Māori rugby union player of the year]]|years=1986}}
{{s-aft|after = Buck Shelford}}
{{end}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Wigan Warriors squads
| bg=red
| fg=white
| bordercolor=red
|list1= 
{{Wigan - 1991 World Club Challenge winners}}
{{Wigan RLFC - 1991 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Wigan RLFC - 1992 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Wigan RLFC - 1993 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Wigan RLFC - 1994 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Wigan - 1994 World Club Challenge winners}}
{{Wigan RLFC - 1995 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Wigan Warriors Hall of Fame inductees}}
}}
{{New Zealand Squad 1987 Rugby World Cup}}
{{New Zealand 1992 Rugby League World Cup squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Botica, Frano}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1987 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:Biarritz Olympique players]]
[[Category:Castleford Tigers players]]
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[[Category:North Harbour rugby union players]]
[[Category:North Island rugby union players]]
[[Category:People educated at Westlake Boys High School]]
[[Category:People from Mangakino]]
[[Category:Rugby league five-eighths]]
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