{{Short description|South African rugby union player}} {{BLP sources|date=December 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Breyton Paulse | image = Breyton Paulse 2009.jpg | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|4|25|df=y}} | birth_place = Koue Bokkeveld, South Africa | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{height|m=1.78}} | weight = {{convert|80|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | university = [[Stellenbosch University]] | position = [[Wing (rugby union)|wing]] or [[Fullback (rugby union)|fullback]] | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | amupdate = | repteam1 = {{nrut|South Africa}} | repyears1 = 1999–2007 | repcaps1 = 64 | reppoints1 = 130 | repupdate = | years1 = | apps1 = | points1 = | clubupdate = | super1 = [[Stormers]] | superyears1 = 1998–2007 | superapps1 = 57 | superpoints1 = 175 | currentclub = | superupdate = | province1 = [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] | provinceyears1 = 1996–2007 | provinceapps1 = 80 | provincepoints1 = 320 | ru_provinceupdate = | repsevensyears1 = | repsevenscomp1 = | ru_sevensupdate = | coachteams1 = | coachyears1 = | ru_coachupdate = | occupation = Professional rugby player }}
'''Breyton Paulse''' (born 25 April 1976 in De Keur, Koue Bokkeveld) is a South African former [[rugby union]] player who played on the [[Wing (rugby union)|wing]] for the national team, the [[South Africa national rugby union team|Springboks]], from 1999 to 2007. He played 64 [[Test match (rugby union)|test matches]] for South Africa, scoring 26 tries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Breyton Paulse - Rugby Union - Players and Officials |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/12696.html |website=ESPN Scrum |publisher=ESPN |access-date=24 October 2020}}</ref>
==Early life== In his youth, in addition to rugby, he participated in cricket, soccer, and athletics, representing [[Boland, Western Cape|Boland]] in the 200 m and 400 m sprints.<ref name="NZHerald" /> The farmer who employed his parents recognized his talent for rugby, and to nurture it, paid his tuition fees to attend Stellenbosch University,<ref name="NZHerald" /> which has produced many Springbok rugby players.
==Rugby career== 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 made his debut for the [[South Africa national rugby union team|Springboks]] in 1999. In his first appearance for the Springboks against [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]], he scored a hat-trick. After scoring his third try that day, he performed his trademark ''flick flack'', a cartwheel followed by a back flip, which he continued to perform after particularly special tries.<ref name="NZHerald">{{cite web |last1=Gilhooly |first1=Daniel |title=Rugby: Paulse flipping out over Cup chances |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10451143 |website=New Zealand Herald |access-date=31 January 2020 |date=12 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rugby HQ's Top 5 Set Piece Tries of all time |url=https://rugbydump.com/news/rugby-hqs-top-5-set-piece-tries-of-all-time |website=Rugby Dump |access-date=31 January 2020 |date=24 April 2013}}</ref>
At the end of the 2000 domestic season, he became the first player of color to be named South African Rugby Player of the Year, capping a season in which he scored two tries in Western Province's win over Natal in the [[Currie Cup]] final <ref>{{cite web |last1=ESPN_Paulse_history |title=Paulse creates history |url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/15347654/paulse-creates-history |website=ESPN |access-date=24 October 2020 |date=29 October 2000}}</ref>
In the Currie Cup, playing mainly for {{rut|Western Province}}, he has averaged nearly a try a match.
Paulse moved to France for the 2005–06 season and played for [[ASM Clermont Auvergne|Clermont Auvergne]] in the [[Top 14]]. He remained eligible for Springboks selection, as [[SARFU|SA Rugby]] abandoned its past policy of requiring that Springbok 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 (against Australia), Paulse received a three-week suspension for kicking Australian prop [[Al Baxter]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Paulse banned for three weeks |url=https://www.espn.com.au/rugby/story/_/id/15381261/paulse-banned-three-weeks |website=ESPN |access-date=31 January 2020 |date=21 August 2005}}</ref>
In the end of 2006, Paulse 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.
His last appearance in the green and gold was against New Zealand during a Tri Nations match in Christchurch in 2007 at the age of 31.
==International statistics==
===Test match record=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%; width:75%;" |- ! style="width:25%;" | Against ! abbr="Played" style="width:15px;" | P ! abbr="Won" style="width:10px;" | W ! abbr="Drawn" style="width:10px;" | D ! abbr="Lost" style="width:10px;" | L ! abbr="Tries" style="width:15px;" | Tri ! abbr="Points" style="width:18px;" | Pts ! abbr="Won" style="width:18px;" | % won |- bgcolor="#d0ffd0" align="center" |- | align="left" | {{ru|ARG}} || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 10 || {{#expr:2/2*100 round 2}} |- | align="left" | {{ru|AUS}} || 17 || 8 || 1 || 8 || 7 || 35 || {{#expr:8.5/17*100 round 2}} |- | align="left" | {{ru|CAN}} || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 10 || {{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}} |- | align="left" | {{ru|ENG}} || 6 || 1 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 || {{#expr:1/6*100 round 2}} |- | align="left" | {{ru|FRA}} || 5 || 1 || 0 || 4 || 1 || 5 || {{#expr:1 /5*100 round 2}} |- | align="left" | {{ru|GEO}} || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || {{#expr:1 /1*100 round 2}} |- | align="left" | {{ru|IRE}} || 3 || 2 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 5 || {{#expr:2/3*100 round 2}} |- | align="left" | {{ru|ITA}} || 4 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 25 || {{#expr:4/4*100 round 2}} |- | align="left" | {{ru|NZL}} || 13 || 5 || 0 || 8 || 3 || 15 || {{#expr:5/13*100 round 2}} |- | align="left" | [[Image:Flag of rugby Pacific Islanders.svg|24px|border|link=Pacific Islanders rugby union team]] [[Pacific Islanders rugby union team|Pacific Islanders]] || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 10 || {{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}} |- | align="left" | {{ru|SAM}} || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || {{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}} |- | align="left" | {{ru|SCO}} || 4 || 3 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 5 || {{#expr:3/4*100 round 2}} |- | align="left" | {{ru|ESP}} || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || {{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}} |- | align="left" | {{ru|WAL}} || 5 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 10 || {{#expr:5/5*100 round 2}} |- ! Total || 64 || 36 || 1 || 27 || 26 || 130 || {{#expr:36.5/64*100 round 2}} |} <small>P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, Tri = Tries scored, Pts = Points scored</small>
===Test tries (26)=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%" |- ! Tries !! Opposition !! Location !! Venue !! class="unsortable"|Competition !! Date !! Result |- | align="center"|'''3''' || {{ru|ITA}} || [[Port Elizabeth]], South Africa || [[Boet Erasmus Stadium]] || [[1999 Italy rugby union tour of South Africa|Test match]] || 12 Jun 1999 || {{won|Won 74–3}} |- | align="center"|'''1''' || {{ru|NZL}} || [[Cardiff]], Wales || [[Millennium Stadium]] || [[1999 Rugby World Cup]] || [[1999 Rugby World Cup#Third-place play-off|4 Nov 1999]] || {{won|Won 22–18}} |- | align="center"|'''2''' || {{ru|CAN}} || [[East London, Eastern Cape|East London]], South Africa || [[Basil Kenyon Stadium]] || Test match || 10 Jun 2000 || {{won|Won 51–18}} |- | align="center"|'''2''' || {{ru|AUS}} || [[Melbourne]], Australia || [[Colonial Stadium]] || [[Mandela Challenge Plate]] || 8 Jul 2000 || {{lost|Lost 23–44}} |- | align="center"|'''2''' || {{ru|ARG}} || [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina || [[Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti|River Plate Stadium]] || [[2000 South Africa rugby union tour of Argentina, Britain and Ireland|Test match]] || 12 Nov 2000 || {{won|Won 37–33}} |- | align="center"|'''1''' || {{ru|WAL}} || [[Cardiff]], Wales || [[Millennium Stadium]] || [[2000 South Africa rugby union tour of Argentina, Britain and Ireland|Test match]] || 26 Nov 2000 || {{won|Won 23–13}} |- | align="center"|'''1''' || {{ru|FRA}} || [[Johannesburg]], South Africa || [[Ellis Park Stadium]] || [[2001 France rugby union tour of South Africa and New Zealand|Test match]] || 16 Jun 2001 || {{lost|Lost 23–32}} |- | align="center"|'''2''' || {{ru|ITA}} || [[Port Elizabeth]], South Africa || [[Boet Erasmus Stadium]] || [[2001 Italy rugby union tour|Test match]] || 30 Jun 2001 || {{won|Won 60–14}} |- | align="center"|'''2''' || {{ru|AUS}} || [[Johannesburg]], South Africa || [[Ellis Park Stadium]] || [[2002 Tri Nations Series|Tri Nations Series]] || 17 Aug 2002 || {{won|Won 33–31}} |- | align="center"|'''1''' || {{ru|IRE}} || [[Cape Town]], South Africa || [[Newlands Stadium|Newlands]] || [[2004 Ireland rugby union tour of South Africa|Test match]] || 19 Jun 2004 || {{won|Won 26–17}} |- | align="center"|'''1''' || {{ru|WAL}} || [[Pretoria]], South Africa || [[Loftus Versfeld]] || [[2004 Wales rugby union tour of Argentina and South Africa|Test match]] || 26 Jun 2004 || {{won|Won 53–18}} |- | align="center"|'''2''' || [[Image:Flag of rugby Pacific Islanders.svg|24px|border|link=Pacific Islanders rugby union team]] [[Pacific Islanders rugby union team|Pacific Islanders]] || [[Gosford]], Australia || [[Central Coast Stadium]] || [[Pacific Islanders rugby union team#Results|Test match]] || 17 Jul 2004 || {{won|Won 38–24}} |- | align="center"|'''1''' || {{ru|NZL}} || [[Johannesburg]], South Africa || [[Ellis Park Stadium]] || [[2004 Tri Nations Series|Tri Nations Series]] || 14 Aug 2004 || {{won|Won 40–26}} |- | align="center"|'''1''' || {{ru|AUS}} || [[Pretoria]], South Africa || [[Loftus Versfeld]] || [[2005 Tri Nations Series|Tri Nations Series]] || 30 Jul 2005 || {{won|Won 22–16}} |- | align="center"|'''1''' || {{ru|SCO}} || [[Durban]], South Africa || [[Kings Park Stadium]] || [[2006 Scotland rugby union tour of South Africa|Test match]] || 10 Jun 2006 || {{won|Won 36–16}} |- | align="center"|'''1''' || {{ru|NZL}} || [[Wellington]], New Zealand || [[Westpac Stadium]] || [[2006 Tri Nations Series|Tri Nations Series]] || 22 Jul 2006 || {{lost|Lost 17–35}} |- | align="center"|'''1''' || {{ru|AUS}} || [[Johannesburg]], South Africa || [[Ellis Park Stadium]] || [[2006 Tri Nations Series|Tri Nations Series]] || 9 Sep 2006 || {{won|Won 24–16}} |- | align="center"|'''1''' || {{ru|AUS}} || [[Sydney]], Australia || [[Telstra Stadium]] || [[2007 Tri Nations Series|Tri Nations Series]] || 7 Jul 2007 || {{lost|Lost 17–27}} |}
==Stance on quotas== Breyton Paulse has spoken out against the use of racial quotas to diversify South African rugby, saying, "It is a big degradation for the players...[it] nearly broke me",<ref>{{cite web |last1=de Koning |first1=Jan |title=Paulse: Remove the Quota Label |url=https://rugby365.com/countries/south-africa/paulse-remove-the-quota-label |website=Rugby 365 |access-date=24 October 2020 |date=2 December 2013}}</ref> after Springbok rugby coach [[Nick Mallet]] described his selection in the 1999 World Cup Squad as "merit with bias".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boshoff |first1=Gary |title=Breyton Makes History |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/breyton-makes-history-20041115 |website=News12 |access-date=24 October 2020 |date=15 November 2004}}</ref> Despite this knock to his confidence, he went on to become one of South Africa's most capped players and leading try scorers by the time he retired.
== Honours == ;[[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] *[[Currie Cup]]: 1997, 2000, 2001 ;[[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] *[[Tri Nations (rugby union)|Tri Nations]]: [[2004 Tri Nations Series|2004]]
==See also== *[[List of South Africa national rugby union players#List|List of South Africa national rugby union players]] – Springbok no. '''647'''
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Sport links}} *{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=18411 | name=Breyton Paulse | date=25 June 2016}} *[http://sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1677 South Africa caps, Part 1 (sporting-heroes.net)] *[http://sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1678 South Africa caps, Part 2 (sporting-heroes.net)] *[http://sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=2073 South Africa caps, Part 3 (sporting-heroes.net)]
{{Navboxes |title = Squads |list1 = {{South Africa 1999 Rugby World Cup squad}} {{2001 South Africa Rugby World Cup Sevens squad}} {{South Africa 2003 Rugby World Cup squad}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paulse, Breyton}} [[Category:1976 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Cape Coloureds]] [[Category:South African rugby union players]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:Rugby union wings]] [[Category:ASM Clermont Auvergne players]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby sevens players]] [[Category:Male rugby sevens players]] [[Category:Rugby union players from the Western Cape]] [[Category:1999 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:2003 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in France]] [[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]] [[Category:20th-century South African sportsmen]]