The Suzuki Griquas tighthead prop Janu Botha is set to play in his 50th game for the team when they face the Bulls in Pretoria on Friday night in the Currie Cup.

Botha, who famously gave up a career as a chef, has been named on the bench for the crunch game against the current leaders in the competition.

Botha, who is a trained chef, grabbed the opportunity to play provincial rugby when the Griquas offered him a contract after reviving his career at the Central University of Technology Ixias in the Varsity Cup. Since then, he hasn’t looked back and has become a regular for the Peacock Blues.

The Griquas assistant coach, Franco van der Merwe, told OFM Sport that Botha always gives more than 100% on and off the field.

“Janu has been with the Griquas for quite a while now, and when I joined as well, I was impressed by the way he plays every game and how he commits himself,” said the former Springbok and Lions lock. “There are not a lot of games where he doesn't come off the field without stitches or any blood, so he really does give everything when he plays.

“But, also you’re also 100% when you say he grabbed the opportunity to play and to develop as a player. He has grown a lot and we are very happy that he gets to play in his 50th game this weekend.”

Janu Botha. Picture: Griquas

Botha is one of four former CUT Ixias players named on the bench, with Eddie Davids, Xavier Swartbooi and Tylor Sefoor having previously played for the team in the Varsity Cup. The scrumhalf Swartbooi will be making his Currie Cup debut for the Griquas.

Friday’s match between the Bulls and Peacock Blues at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 19:05.

Bulls – TBA

Griquas - 15 Connor Mahoney, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Sango Xamlashe (captain), 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Sako Makata, 10 Zinedine Robinson, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Dandré Delport, 1 Leon Lyons

Replacements - 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Janu Botha, 19 Albert Liebenberg, 20 Jac van der Walt, 21 Xavier Swartbooi, 22 Tylor Sefoor, 23 Zane Bester

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg