Botica goes bankrupt

Botica. Photo / Supplied

The property downturn has bankrupted former All Black Frano Botica.

Botica, who earned seven caps for the All Blacks before switching to league in 1989, was the subject of a bankruptcy judgment in the Auckland High Court on January 12.

Botica said yesterday he was caught in the property slump. "It was just apartments. It's just one of things that happens.

"I'm stuck in property, which isn't my forte and got stung - like a lot of other people. We're all human."

Martin Dunn, managing director of City Sales, was sad to hear of Botica's bankruptcy, but said he was not alone.

"Poor old Frano. A lot of people have been crossing their fingers hoping this'll get better."

Botica works as a senior training partner for Training Plus, a company he helped found.

The business offers leadership and change management seminars to the corporate and state sectors.

Training Plus director Katheren Leitner said she was aware of Botica's bankruptcy, but she saw it as a positive as success and failure in business often went hand in hand.

Botica said he wouldn't let bankruptcy hold him back.

"I've lost money to banks and that - but f*** that - life goes on," he said. "I'll be back, I promise."