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Levani Botia turns down Leicester Tigers

Levani Botia /Getty

Blockbusting Fijian hybrid player Levani Botia has turned down advances from Leicester Tigers and will stay on at Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle – it was confirmed this week.

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The Fijian skipper had been heavily linked with a move to Steve Borthwick’s Premiership league leaders but has instead been convinced to stay put at Les Corsaires.

It was confirmed this week that Botia has signed on for another two seasons at the club which he joined in 2014.

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Botia is a rare breed of player who can play both in the back row and in the centres, where his explosive ball carrying appears to be equally effective.

The 32-year-old has more recently been deployed by O’Gara as a back row. O’Gara told Le Equipe this week: “It’s just added value for our back row which, since the start of the season, has taken a small hit in  with the career stoppage of Kévin Gourdon and the lack of availability of Wiaan Liebenberg and Victor Vito.”

Botia (6ft, 103kg) is nicknamed ‘The Demolition’ man and has been a mainstay of the French side throughout their climb through the French ranks.  He has played 141 matches in Yellow and Black, becoming a cult hero at Marcel Deflandre. 

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Another 4 hours ago
Razor's 2024 All Blacks Christmas wish list

"It seems like the idea of Ardie Savea moving to openside flanker is no longer on the table"


Says who? Savea was picked on the open side, with Wallace Sititi at 8, against France. It makes no difference to Savea’s game, whatsoever and allows Sititi to play in his preferred position. It also provides an option to bring in a third loose forward that may provide a better lineout option and a big body to compete with some of the big bodies found in other teams.


It was unfortunate that Finau was injured so early on against France before he had a chance to show how he might combine with Savea and Sititi, and there is still a possibility that Hoskins Sotutu might be effective alongside them too.


Don’t count out viable options.

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