BJ Botha: Overseas stars face complex challenges in forging Irish careers

BJ Botha was an established South African Test prop when he chose to ply his trade in Ireland but the Springbok World Cup winner believes there is more to switching countries than a mere residency rule.

The Munster front rower will on Saturday return to Ravenhill to face Ulster, the province he left his native land for in 2008 and spent three happy years with before moving south in 2011.

Had he not already been capped by his country, those three years would have been enough to qualify Botha to play for Ireland under current World Rugby regulations.