Career statistics
List of international tries
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 July 2021 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales |  Canada | 12–5 | 68–12 | 2021 July rugby union tests |
as of 3 July 2021 [update]
| Full name | James Ian Botham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 22 February 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cardiff, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 108 kg (238 lb; 17 st 0 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Sedbergh School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Liam Botham (father) Ian Botham (grandfather) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James Ian Botham (born 22 February 1998) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship club Cardiff and the Wales national team. [1]
The grandson of all-round cricketer Ian Botham, James was born in Cardiff while his father Liam Botham was playing for Cardiff RFC as a wing. After his father moved to Newcastle Falcons for the 2000–01 season, James was educated at Sedbergh School, a boarding school in Cumbria. [2] [3]
Botham joined the Cardiff academy in 2016, and in the 2018–19 season started making appearances for the senior team, initially in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, and then debuted in the Pro14 against Connacht Rugby. Botham signed his first professional contract with Cardiff in March 2019. [4] [5]
Botham was selected as Man of the Match against the Dragons on 26 December 2020. [6]
Botham made his debut for Wales U18 on 25 March 2016 against Scotland under-18 at St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground, Swansea, scoring a try in the 31-30 victory. [7] Botham made his first appearance for Wales U20 in the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. [8]
In early 2017, Botham was selected by Wales Sevens for the World Rugby Sevens Series, making his first appearance during the New Zealand leg. [9]
On 16 November 2020, Botham was called up to the senior Wales rugby side for the Autumn Nations Cup tournament. [10] Botham made his test debut against Georgia on 21 November 2020, starting on the blindside. [11] He started the following two matches of the tournament, against England and Italy.
Botham was selected in the squad for the 2021 Six Nations Championship, making three appearances off the bench as Wales won the championship and Triple Crown. [12]
Botham retained his place in the squad for the 2021 July rugby union tests, and score his first try for Wales in the win over Canada. [13] Botham made two further appearances, starting both matches against Argentina.
Ahead of the 2021–22 season, Botham underwent shoulder surgery, which ruled him out of the 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals. [14] Botham was not selected for the 2022 Six Nations squad, having suffered a head injury just prior. [15]
In Wales final fixture of the 2024 Autumn Nations Series, Botham scored a late try in a 45-12 defeat to South Africa. Despite the result, this try would prevent Wales from sustaining their margin in a home loss in an international fixture. [16]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 July 2021 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | Canada | 12–5 | 68–12 | 2021 July rugby union tests |
as of 3 July 2021 [update]
Kenneth James Owens is a former Welsh rugby union player who played as a hooker for the Scarlets and Wales. He made his debut for the Scarlets in 2006, taking over from Matthew Rees as their first-choice hooker upon Rees' departure for the Cardiff Blues in 2013. He also served as backup to Rees, among others, for Wales following his debut against Namibia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. In 2016, he took over as Wales' first-choice hooker, and in January 2023, following almost a year out with a back injury, he was named as captain for the 2023 Six Nations Championship.
Jordan Rhys Williams is a Welsh rugby union footballer who plays for the Dragons. His regular position is at full-back, but he has also played at fly-half and on the wing. He began his career with amateur side New Dock Stars RFC, before being signed by Llanelli RFC and ultimately breaking into the Scarlets regional side. However, he struggled to find playing time with the Scarlets and moved to Bristol in 2016, only to return to Wales with the Dragons two years later. He has also played internationally for Wales at under-16, under-18 and under-20 level, as well as for the Wales Sevens team.
Alex Jeffries is a Welsh former professional rugby union player who played as a prop. He retired from rugby due to a neck injury in April 2023.
Joshua Huw Adams is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for United Rugby Championship club Cardiff and the Wales national team.
Ryan Conbeer is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for the Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship as a winger. He had previously played for the Scarlets and Llanelli RFC
Leon Michael Brown is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Dragons and the Wales national team.
Dane Blacker is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Dragons regional team as a scrum-half. He is a former Wales Under-20 international. Blacker has previously played for Cardiff Rugby and the Scarlets.
James Ratti is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a back row forward for the Ospreys and Wales national team.
Max Llewellyn is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Gloucester as a centre. He is a Wales under-20 international. Llewellyn came through the Cardiff academy, and made his professional debut with the club in 2017, before signing with Gloucester in 2023. Llewellyn has represented Wales, making his debut on 5 August 2023.
Rio Dyer is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for United Rugby Championship club Dragons and the Wales national team.
Jac Price is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for United Rugby Championship side Scarlets. His preferred position is lock.
Teddy Williams is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for United Rugby Championship club Cardiff and the Wales national team.
Mason Grady is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Cardiff and the Wales national team.
Luke Scully is a Welsh rugby union player, currently playing for United Rugby Championship side Ospreys as a fly-half and centre.
Kemsley Mathias is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Wales national team.
Carwyn Tuipulotu is a Welsh rugby union player, currently playing for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Scarlets. His preferred position is flanker or number 8.
Iestyn Rees is a German-born Welsh rugby union player, currently playing for Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup side Scarlets. His preferred position is flanker.
Joe Roberts is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Wales national team.
Jacob Beetham is a Welsh rugby union player, who plays as a full-back for United Rugby Championship side Cardiff Rugby.
Alex Mann is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship club Cardiff and the Wales national team.
