James Botham Continues Family Legacy in Professional Sport
James Botham has followed in the footsteps of his grandfather Ian Botham and father Liam Botham by pursuing a career in professional sport.
Botham Receives Teasing from Teammates and Grandfather After Costly Error
James Botham has experienced light-hearted teasing from his Wales teammates following a costly error during the match against Scotland. Additionally, he was playfully sledged by his renowned cricketing grandfather, Sir Ian Botham.
Botham to Start Against Ireland in Six Nations
The 28-year-old flanker is set to build on a strong return to international rugby by starting for Wales against Ireland in the Six Nations match in Dublin on Friday at 20:10 GMT.
Promotion to Starting XV After Impactful Substitute Appearance
Botham was promoted to the starting XV after impressing as a replacement in the game against Scotland, despite being caught out by Finn Russell's quick thinking during a restart.
Details of the Restart Incident
During the match, the Cardiff forward returned to his position with his back turned, failed to spot the ball in the air, and a fortuitous bounce allowed Darcy Graham to score, narrowing the margin to a one-score game.
Scotland took the lead for the first time in the 74th minute, resulting in Wales suffering their 14th consecutive Six Nations defeat.
Graham Scores Try for Scotland From Restart
The try by Darcy Graham came directly from the quick restart, highlighting the impact of Botham's momentary lapse.
Teammates and Grandfather Join in Light-Hearted Ribbing
Wales teammates have engaged in some gentle teasing, including calls of "look up" during training sessions. Sir Ian Botham, one of England's most celebrated all-rounders, also joined in from Australia.
"Even granddad said something from the other side of the world. He always has a little say," said James.
"I kind of knew it was coming and I was trying to avoid the call a little bit. But no, the FaceTime popped up, and I saw him, and I was like, 'Oh, here we go'.
"He just looked at me, kind of with his head down and smirked, but I knew exactly what he was on about.
"But to be fair, he was very chuffed for me that I had been able to get back out there and play."
Botham Earns 19th Cap Against Scotland
James Botham earned his 19th international cap during the match against Scotland.
Broadcast Information
Fans can listen to the match on Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, and BBC Radio Ulster, or watch on S4C.
Botham Set to Win 20th Cap Amid Sporadic International Career
Botham is poised to win his 20th cap on Friday, in a career marked by intermittent appearances.
He made his international debut against Georgia during the 2020 autumn internationals but was absent from the squad between summer 2021 and the 2024 Six Nations.
Injury Challenges and Return to Squad
A knee injury prevented Botham from contending for selection in Steve Tandy's initial squad in November. Despite strong performances for Cardiff, he feared the worst when his phone rang in January.
"When we get the call it's sometimes to say we're not involved," he said. "My heart sank a bit when I saw it and then Steve told me it was good news."
Opportunity Arises Following Teammates' Injuries
After observing Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, Aaron Wainwright, Taine Plumtree, and Olly Cracknell participate in the first two rounds, Botham was called into the 23-man squad to face Scotland.
He seized his opportunity when Plumtree was forced off after just nine minutes, and the determined flanker has been rewarded with a starting position at open-side against Ireland.
Back Row Partnership and Team Preparations
Botham will partner in the back row with Cardiff teammate Alex Mann and the in-form Aaron Wainwright, who trained fully at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday morning after recovering from a knock and has been named in the starting XV.
"We need to put in another performance and show what we've got," said Botham.
"Everyone's excited for it and I'm sure you can see where it's going. It's all improvements every game, so hopefully we can just keep going."
Looking Ahead to the Match Against Ireland
Having impressed against Scotland, Botham aims to replicate his performance in Dublin, with an emphasis on improved positioning during restarts.
- Can Wales settle on Scarlets midfield partnership?
- Ireland v Wales - your guide to the Six Nations game
