Harlequins prop Santiago Garcia Botta has announced that he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership season. The Argentinian international arrived at the Twickenham Stoop from former Super Rugby club Jaguares in 2019, and racked up a total of 62 appearances in the famous quarters.
Garcia Botta also had an impressive run with Los Pumas at international level, through which he achieved 34 test caps for Argentina. The 31-year-old now calls time on his ten-year career to embark on a new chapter as a strength and conditioning coach.
Upon joining the Club in 2019/20, Garcia Botta becoming a regular in the front-row and helped Quins clinch the Gallagher Premiership title in 2021. He featured off the bench in the famous 38-40 win over Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham.
Prior to his move to Quins, Garcia Botta played over 40 Super Rugby matches for the Jaguares, helping the Argentinian club reach the final against the Crusaders in 2019. He also enjoyed a stint with Stade Francais in the Top 14 and represented Argentina in the Rugby Championship and the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Speaking ahead of his retirement, Garcia Botta said: “After much thought and reflection with my family, I have made the decision to retire from professional rugby. I believe it’s the right time to do so, and I want to thank everyone who has supported me, in particular my family and friends.
“To the fans of Harlequins, thank you for your support from day one. You made me feel at home and it was a great honour to represent a club like this. To my teammates, thank you for the memories, the friendships, and the shared moments.
“I’m now looking forward to embarking on a new stage in my life back home in Argentina, for which I’ve been preparing for several years by training as a strength and conditioning coach.”
Director of Rugby Billy Millard commented: “Santi has been a much-loved member of our squad for the past five years. He’s worked incredibly hard for his opportunities and has been an excellent professional throughout his time at Quins. We’re sad to see Santi retire but we wish him and his family the very best with their move home to Argentina.”