35-year-old tight-head Botha has made 161 appearances since joining from South African side Cheetahs in 2018, becoming a mainstay in the Ospreys front-row.
A long-term cornerstone of the Ospreys’ scrum, Botha has been an integral member of the squad and emerged as a fan favourite, with his experience having a positive influence on the younger front rowers around him.
“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,” said Botha on his new deal.
“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,” said Ospreys head coach Mark Jones.
The fact that 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.”
Walsh, meanwhile, who can play full-back or fly-half, has scored 233 points in 76 appearances since making his Ospreys debut in 2022.
The 26-year-old will play in the French second division in the 2026-27 campaign, with Montauban already relegated from the Top 14 after only one league win this season.
Jones says his side did not want Walsh to leave.
“We did our best to keep him, but he received an offer to test himself in different waters and we understand his motivations to pursue that opportunity,” said Jones.
“Walshy is a model professional and a great character so he will certainly be missed by everyone at the Ospreys.”
Jones will need to bring in a fly-half to back up Wales fly-half Dan Edwards, although they have brought in Tom Rogers from Scarlets to help cover full-back.
“Whilst Walshy will be a loss for us, we have already added some quality in Tom Rogers,” said Jones.
“It will also present more opportunities for our younger 15s coming through that we have high hopes for in an Ospreys jersey.”
Ospreys have lost Wales captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake and centre Phil Cokanasiga to Gloucester for next season, while lock James Fender is also moving to France.
Walsh, who would have qualified to play for Wales on residency in the next 12 months, outlined why he was leaving.
“Ospreys means a lot to me, so this was a tough decision to make,” said Walsh.
“I am grateful for the time I’ve spent at the Ospreys, I’ve grown a lot as a player and a person since I joined the team and want to thank everyone who has played a part in that.
“I have made lifelong friends, and the Osprey supporters have been amazing throughout my time at the region.
“I’d like to thank Mark [Jones], the coaches and all staff, it’s an amazing place to come to work every day.
“While it’s a bittersweet moment, I’m excited to embrace this opportunity and test myself in a new environment.”
[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]
