Breyton Paulse
Encyclopedia
Breyton Paulse is a South Africa
n rugby union
player who has played at wing for the national team, the Springboks
, since 1999.
By the time Paulse was entering secondary school, apartheid was being dismantled, meaning that his status as Coloured
would have no effect on his rugby aspirations. However, his size proved to be a major concern; at his adult size of 1.78 m, 80 kg (5'10", 180 lb), he was thought to be too small to play top-flight rugby. Despite his size, his tremendous speed (he was a former South Africa Schools champion at 200 and 400 m) ensured that he would receive a serious look from selectors at all levels.
Paulse garnered attention almost from the start of his top-flight rugby career with a hat-trick
of tries in his first Currie Cup
match in 1996, and eventually made his first Springboks appearance in 1999. In his first appearance for the Springboks against Italy
, he scored a hat-trick.
As of 7 August 2005, he has amassed 54 appearances for the Springboks, placing him in the top seven all-time for Springboks caps, and scored 22 tries. Perhaps his most notable Springboks match was a two-try performance against Australia
in the 2002 Tri Nations. In the Currie Cup, playing mainly for Western Province, he has averaged nearly a try a match.
Paulse will move to France
for the 2005–06 season and play for Clermont Auvergne
in the Top 14. He will remain eligible for Springboks selection, as SA Rugby has abandoned its past policy of requiring that Springboks players play domestic rugby in South Africa. Springboks coach Jake White
indeed selected him for the 2005 Tri Nations, and started him in South Africa's first three matches. Paulse scored an important try in South Africa's series-opening 22-16 win over Australia. However, in the Springboks' third match (at Australia), Paulse received a three-week suspension for kicking Australian prop Al Baxter
.
In the seasons of 1997 and 1998, Paulse was predominantly playing fullback. Paulse became comfortable at wing and developed into a fine player, using his blistering pace to score many tries.
In the end of 2006, he was picked by the Stormers
franchise to be part of their team for the 2007 Super 14 where he strengthened his chances to once again don the Springboks
colors.
He was selected for the squad that was present at the 2003 Rugby World Cup
finals, but was only selected to the 2007 Rugby World Cup
finals, as a reserve player.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player who has played at wing for the national team, the Springboks
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
, since 1999.
By the time Paulse was entering secondary school, apartheid was being dismantled, meaning that his status as Coloured
Coloured
In the South African, Namibian, Zambian, Botswana and Zimbabwean context, the term Coloured refers to an heterogenous ethnic group who possess ancestry from Europe, various Khoisan and Bantu tribes of Southern Africa, West Africa, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaya, India, Mozambique,...
would have no effect on his rugby aspirations. However, his size proved to be a major concern; at his adult size of 1.78 m, 80 kg (5'10", 180 lb), he was thought to be too small to play top-flight rugby. Despite his size, his tremendous speed (he was a former South Africa Schools champion at 200 and 400 m) ensured that he would receive a serious look from selectors at all levels.
Paulse garnered attention almost from the start of his top-flight rugby career with a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
of tries in his first Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
match in 1996, and eventually made his first Springboks appearance in 1999. In his first appearance for the Springboks against Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
, he scored a hat-trick.
As of 7 August 2005, he has amassed 54 appearances for the Springboks, placing him in the top seven all-time for Springboks caps, and scored 22 tries. Perhaps his most notable Springboks match was a two-try performance against Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
in the 2002 Tri Nations. In the Currie Cup, playing mainly for Western Province, he has averaged nearly a try a match.
Paulse will move to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for the 2005–06 season and play for Clermont Auvergne
ASM Clermont Auvergne
Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne are a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA are the were the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club...
in the Top 14. He will remain eligible for Springboks selection, as SA Rugby has abandoned its past policy of requiring that Springboks players play domestic rugby in South Africa. Springboks coach Jake White
Jake White
Jake White is a rugby union coach and former coach of the South Africa national rugby union team, the Springboks. His most notable achievements as coach include leading the Springboks to victory in 2007 Rugby World Cup and the 2004 Tri Nations title...
indeed selected him for the 2005 Tri Nations, and started him in South Africa's first three matches. Paulse scored an important try in South Africa's series-opening 22-16 win over Australia. However, in the Springboks' third match (at Australia), Paulse received a three-week suspension for kicking Australian prop Al Baxter
Al Baxter
Al Baxter is an Australian rugby union player. He currently plays for the Waratahs in the Super 14. He played in the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups, but was not selected for the 2011 squad.-Career:...
.
In the seasons of 1997 and 1998, Paulse was predominantly playing fullback. Paulse became comfortable at wing and developed into a fine player, using his blistering pace to score many tries.
In the end of 2006, he was picked by the Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...
franchise to be part of their team for the 2007 Super 14 where he strengthened his chances to once again don the Springboks
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
colors.
He was selected for the squad that was present at the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
finals, but was only selected to the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
finals, as a reserve player.