Naas Botha during an interview. Former South Africa flyhalf Naas Botha has reportedly relocated to the United States.
Image: Michael Sherman
In a move that has surprised the South African rugby community, legendary Springbok flyhalf Naas Botha has reportedly relocated to the United States.
According to various news reports, the 68-year-old icon and his wife, Karen, have settled in Kansas, marking the end of a long and storied chapter in South African broadcasting and coaching.
A family affair
Sources indicate that the primary driver behind the move is family. The couple’s daughters, Gaeby and Lee-Gre, are currently in the US pursuing their own sporting legacies through athletic scholarships for soccer.
Reports suggest that Naas and Karen chose to relocate to be closer to their children as they progress through the American collegiate system.Both daughters have inherited the "Botha athletic gene," with Karen herself being a former Olympic long jumper and Naas widely regarded as one of the greatest tactical kickers in rugby history.
End of an era in SA
The relocation explains Botha's recent absence from the public eye in South Africa:After decades as a staple on SuperSport, where his "rugby is not ice-skating" philosophy became legendary, Botha has reportedly stepped away from his regular analyst duties.Local Centurion reports confirmed that he has also concluded his tenure as Director of Rugby at Hoërskool Eldoraigne, a role he had held since late 2023.
Full circle in America
This move serves as a "full circle" moment for Botha. According to sports historians, he first captured American attention in 1983 when he traveled to the US for a high-profile trial as a placekicker for the Dallas Cowboys.
While his professional American football ambitions didn't materialise then, his return in 2026 sees him back on American soil - this time as a supportive parent and elder statesman of South African sport.While he is officially "retired" from his South African roles, the "Kicking King" isn't staying away from the field entirely. He is reportedly assisting local sports programmes in Kansas, sharing his world-class expertise in kicking and mental performance with a new generation of American athletes.