Veteran prop Botha signs new Ospreys contract

Tom Botha celebrated his 28th birthday on the day of his Ospreys debut in a win over Edinburgh on 31 August, 2018 [Huw Evans agency]

Veteran prop Tom Botha has committed his future to Ospreys by signing a new deal with Welsh region.

The 35-year-old tight-head has made 161 Ospreys appearances since joining from South African side Cheetahs in 2018.

Ospreys have not revealed the duration of Botha's new deal.

"This club has become a second home for me, so I'm happy to be continuing my career here," Botha said.

"I have had the privilege of playing alongside and learning from some incredible players in my time here.

"I'm now in a position in my career where I can pass on that knowledge to some of the younger boys coming through, whilst still giving my all on the field for this great club."

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones described Botha as an incredible servant who has been "a key factor behind our set-piece success as a team in recent seasons".

Jones added: "The fact he has managed to mount up as many appearances as he has speaks volumes about his availability and care for the team.

"With the specialised nature of the tight-head position and the ever-growing influence of the scrum, the importance of quality in depth on that front is vital.

"We've got the ideal balance of experience and high-potential players coming through at three, so we're excited by that department moving forward."

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