Ospreys have announced that veteran tighthead prop Tom Botha has signed a new contract at the club.

Botha has been a regular for the west Walian region since signing in 2018, making 161 appearances and scoring two tries.

A long-term cornerstone of the Ospreys’ scrum, the 35-year-old has been a key member of the squad and emerged as a fan favourite.

Botha joined Ospreys from Cheetahs, having previously played his entire career in South Africa.

“Ever since I joined the Ospreys, I have been made to feel welcome, this club has become a second home for me, so I’m happy to be continuing my career here,” Botha said.

“I have had the privilege of playing alongside and learning from some incredible players in my time here. I’m now in a position in my career where I can pass on that knowledge to some of the youngers boys coming through, whilst still giving my all on the field for this great club.”

“Tommy has been an incredible servant to the Ospreys and a key factor behind our set-piece success as a team in recent seasons,” head coach Mark Jones added.

“The fact he has managed to mount up as many appearances as he has, it speaks volumes about his availability and care for the team.”

“With the specialised nature of the tighthead position and the ever-growing influence of the scrum, the importance of quality in depth on that front is vital.

“We’ve got the ideal balance of experience and high-potential players coming through at three, so we’re excited by that department moving forward.”

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