Frano Botica, former All Black, vividly remembered the bone-chilling brawl that unfolded during the Maori All Blacks' 1988 tour in Argentina. Describing the on and off-field chaos as the most terrifying ordeal of his rugby career, Botica's tales from that tumultuous day still echo the madness they endured. Nearly four decades later, while speaking on the Dom Harvey Podcast, he recounted the events that led him and his teammates to fear for their lives.
Botica, now 62 and reflecting on his past with a touch of humor despite a recent stroke, highlighted the unforgettable match against Tucuman. "When they kicked off, all 15 players charged and sparked a brawl. With rugby legends like Buck Shelford and the Brooke brothers on our side, we weren’t looking for trouble, but we had no choice but to respond," he explained. The game transformed into a relentless skirmish, halted prematurely as the crowd's aggression escalated dangerously.
"The crowd started throwing stuff at us... We had to stand in the middle of the field until they ran out of things to throw,"
Botica detailed their harrowing escape from the stadium, "We formed a line, shielded by a flimsy cage for just five meters, then faced a gauntlet of irate fans. We grabbed makeshift weapons for protection, seriously thinking we might not make it out alive." Their ordeal continued until they managed to board their bus amidst the chaos, with local police instructing them to keep their heads down until they reached safety.
Tucuman's notorious reputation for violence was confirmed years later, as Botica stumbled upon a clip of their game and another violent match involving the Springboks. "It wasn't just us; Tucuman is notorious for this," he added.
Switching to a lighter note, Botica reminisced about his fondest rugby memory—his debut for the All Blacks against France in 1986, where he faced his hero, Serge Blanco. "That first Test was unforgettable, especially playing against Serge, who I had admired since my youth," he shared. Botica’s career has been marked by both exhilarating highs and terrifying lows, painting a vivid picture of the contrasts that define the sport of rugby.
All Blacks XV squad for overseas tour includes Dalton Papali'i among eight internationals selected by Jamie Joseph.
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Frano Botica, former All Black, vividly remembered the bone-chilling brawl that unfolded during the Maori All Blacks' 1988 tour in Argentina. Describing the on and off-field chaos as the most terrifying ordeal of his rugby career, Botica's tales from that tumultuous day still echo the madness they endured. Nearly four decades later, while speaking on the Dom Harvey Podcast, he recounted the events that led him and his teammates to fear for their lives.
Botica, now 62 and reflecting on his past with a touch of humor despite a recent stroke, highlighted the unforgettable match against Tucuman. "When they kicked off, all 15 players charged and sparked a brawl. With rugby legends like Buck Shelford and the Brooke brothers on our side, we weren’t looking for trouble, but we had no choice but to respond," he explained. The game transformed into a relentless skirmish, halted prematurely as the crowd's aggression escalated dangerously.
"The crowd started throwing stuff at us... We had to stand in the middle of the field until they ran out of things to throw,"
Botica detailed their harrowing escape from the stadium, "We formed a line, shielded by a flimsy cage for just five meters, then faced a gauntlet of irate fans. We grabbed makeshift weapons for protection, seriously thinking we might not make it out alive." Their ordeal continued until they managed to board their bus amidst the chaos, with local police instructing them to keep their heads down until they reached safety.
Tucuman's notorious reputation for violence was confirmed years later, as Botica stumbled upon a clip of their game and another violent match involving the Springboks. "It wasn't just us; Tucuman is notorious for this," he added.
Switching to a lighter note, Botica reminisced about his fondest rugby memory—his debut for the All Blacks against France in 1986, where he faced his hero, Serge Blanco. "That first Test was unforgettable, especially playing against Serge, who I had admired since my youth," he shared. Botica’s career has been marked by both exhilarating highs and terrifying lows, painting a vivid picture of the contrasts that define the sport of rugby.
All Blacks XV squad for overseas tour includes Dalton Papali'i among eight internationals selected by Jamie Joseph.