Ben Botica will leave Harlequins to join Top 14 outfit Montpellier in France - Ruck

Ben Botica will leave Harlequins to join Top 14 outfit Montpellier in France

  • Ben Botica will leave the club at the end of the season to join Top 14 outfit Montpellier in France
  • The 26-year-old’s position had been in jeopardy after it was announced yesterday that Ruaridh Jackson would join Quins in the summer 
  • The New Zealander has made 93 appearances for the club, scoring 544 points, since joining in 2012
  • Tito Tebaldi, Keiran Treadwell, Beau Robinson, Sam Egerton and Luke White are also set to leave.
Harlequins Ben Botica will leave Harlequins at the end of the season to join Top 14 outfit Montpellier for the 2016/17 campaign.

The fly-half comes in to replace the Toulon-bound Francois Trinh-Duc. Botica joined Harlequins for the 2012/13 season and made an immediate impact, notably during his Heineken Cup debut, kicking 19 points in the victory over Biarritz.



Since joining Quins, the 26-year-old has made 93 appearances, scoring 544 points. He was an integral member of the 2013 LV= Cup winning side and made nine consecutive 80-minute performances this season in the absence of first teamer Nick Evans.

“Being around such a great group, in playing ability and as people, is something you can’t buy.

“Had it not been for Conor [O’Shea, director of rugby] calling me up four years ago in New Zealand, I don’t know where I would be with my rugby career, so I’m truly grateful to the club for the opportunity they gave me having not seen too much of me.”

He added: “It’s beginning to hit home how much I will miss this club and the people associated with it.

“I’ve been given a new and exciting challenge in France with Montpellier, but my immediate focus is to help Harlequins finish top six and win European silverware.”



Other departures see scrum-half Tito Tebaldi joins Guinness Pro 12 side Treviso, and second row Keiran Treadwell makes the move to Ulster from the Quins academy.

Beau Robinson, Sam Egerton and Luke White are also set to leave.

O’Shea said: “They have each made their own mark on the club in the day to day environment and during testing times on the field.

“I know everyone at Harlequins is grateful to them, and I would like to wish them the best of luck in their future careers.”