# Breyton Paulse

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South African rugby union player

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Rugby player

Breyton Paulse Born (1976-04-25) 25 April 1976 (age 50) Koue Bokkeveld, South Africa Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) Weight 80 kg (12 st 8 lb; 176 lb) University Stellenbosch University Occupation Professional rugby player Rugby union career Position wing or fullback Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1996–2007 Western Province 80 (320) Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 1998–2007 Stormers 57 (175) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1999–2007 South Africa 64 (130)

**Breyton Paulse** (born 25 April 1976 in De Keur, Koue Bokkeveld) is a South African former [rugby union](/source/Rugby_union) player who played on the [wing](/source/Wing_(rugby_union)) for the national team, the [Springboks](/source/South_Africa_national_rugby_union_team), from 1999 to 2007. He played 64 [test matches](/source/Test_match_(rugby_union)) for South Africa, scoring 26 tries.[1]

## Early life

In his youth, in addition to rugby, he participated in cricket, soccer, and athletics, representing [Boland](/source/Boland%2C_Western_Cape) in the 200 m and 400 m sprints.[2] The farmer who employed his parents recognized his talent for rugby, and to nurture it, paid his tuition fees to attend Stellenbosch University,[2] 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](/source/Hat-trick) of tries in his first [Currie Cup](/source/Currie_Cup) match in 1996, and made his debut for the [Springboks](/source/South_Africa_national_rugby_union_team) in 1999. In his first appearance for the Springboks against [Italy](/source/Italy_national_rugby_union_team), 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.[2][3]

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](/source/Currie_Cup) final [4]

In the Currie Cup, playing mainly for [Western Province](/source/Stormers), he has averaged nearly a try a match.

Paulse moved to France for the 2005–06 season and played for [Clermont Auvergne](/source/ASM_Clermont_Auvergne) in the [Top 14](/source/Top_14). He remained eligible for Springboks selection, as [SA Rugby](/source/SARFU) abandoned its past policy of requiring that Springbok players play domestic rugby in South Africa. Springboks coach [Jake White](/source/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](/source/Al_Baxter).[5]

In the end of 2006, Paulse was picked by the [Stormers](/source/Stormers) franchise to be part of their team for the [2007 Super 14](/source/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](/source/2003_Rugby_World_Cup) finals, but was only selected to the [2007 Rugby World Cup](/source/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

Against P W D L Tri Pts % won Argentina 2 2 0 0 2 10 100 Australia 17 8 1 8 7 35 50 Canada 1 1 0 0 2 10 100 England 6 1 0 5 0 0 16.67 France 5 1 0 4 1 5 20 Georgia 1 1 0 0 0 0 100 Ireland 3 2 0 1 1 5 66.67 Italy 4 4 0 0 5 25 100 New Zealand 13 5 0 8 3 15 38.46 Pacific Islanders 1 1 0 0 2 10 100 Samoa 1 1 0 0 0 0 100 Scotland 4 3 0 1 1 5 75 Spain 1 1 0 0 0 0 100 Wales 5 5 0 0 2 10 100 Total 64 36 1 27 26 130 57.03

P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, Tri = Tries scored, Pts = Points scored

### Test tries (26)

Tries Opposition Location Venue Competition Date Result 3 Italy Port Elizabeth, South Africa Boet Erasmus Stadium Test match 12 Jun 1999 Won 74–3 1 New Zealand Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 1999 Rugby World Cup 4 Nov 1999 Won 22–18 2 Canada East London, South Africa Basil Kenyon Stadium Test match 10 Jun 2000 Won 51–18 2 Australia Melbourne, Australia Colonial Stadium Mandela Challenge Plate 8 Jul 2000 Lost 23–44 2 Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina River Plate Stadium Test match 12 Nov 2000 Won 37–33 1 Wales Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium Test match 26 Nov 2000 Won 23–13 1 France Johannesburg, South Africa Ellis Park Stadium Test match 16 Jun 2001 Lost 23–32 2 Italy Port Elizabeth, South Africa Boet Erasmus Stadium Test match 30 Jun 2001 Won 60–14 2 Australia Johannesburg, South Africa Ellis Park Stadium Tri Nations Series 17 Aug 2002 Won 33–31 1 Ireland Cape Town, South Africa Newlands Test match 19 Jun 2004 Won 26–17 1 Wales Pretoria, South Africa Loftus Versfeld Test match 26 Jun 2004 Won 53–18 2 Pacific Islanders Gosford, Australia Central Coast Stadium Test match 17 Jul 2004 Won 38–24 1 New Zealand Johannesburg, South Africa Ellis Park Stadium Tri Nations Series 14 Aug 2004 Won 40–26 1 Australia Pretoria, South Africa Loftus Versfeld Tri Nations Series 30 Jul 2005 Won 22–16 1 Scotland Durban, South Africa Kings Park Stadium Test match 10 Jun 2006 Won 36–16 1 New Zealand Wellington, New Zealand Westpac Stadium Tri Nations Series 22 Jul 2006 Lost 17–35 1 Australia Johannesburg, South Africa Ellis Park Stadium Tri Nations Series 9 Sep 2006 Won 24–16 1 Australia Sydney, Australia Telstra Stadium Tri Nations Series 7 Jul 2007 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",[6] after Springbok rugby coach [Nick Mallet](/source/Nick_Mallet) described his selection in the 1999 World Cup Squad as "merit with bias".[7] 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](/source/Western_Province_(rugby_team))**

- [Currie Cup](/source/Currie_Cup): 1997, 2000, 2001

**[South Africa](/source/South_Africa_national_rugby_union_team)**

- [Tri Nations](/source/Tri_Nations_(rugby_union)): [2004](/source/2004_Tri_Nations_Series)

## See also

- [List of South Africa national rugby union players](/source/List_of_South_Africa_national_rugby_union_players#List) – Springbok no. **647**

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Breyton Paulse - Rugby Union - Players and Officials"](http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/12696.html). *ESPN Scrum*. ESPN. Retrieved 24 October 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NZHerald_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NZHerald_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NZHerald_2-2) Gilhooly, Daniel (12 July 2007). ["Rugby: Paulse flipping out over Cup chances"](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10451143). *New Zealand Herald*. Retrieved 31 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Rugby HQ's Top 5 Set Piece Tries of all time"](https://rugbydump.com/news/rugby-hqs-top-5-set-piece-tries-of-all-time). *Rugby Dump*. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ESPN_Paulse_history (29 October 2000). ["Paulse creates history"](https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/15347654/paulse-creates-history). *ESPN*. Retrieved 24 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Paulse banned for three weeks"](https://www.espn.com.au/rugby/story/_/id/15381261/paulse-banned-three-weeks). *ESPN*. 21 August 2005. Retrieved 31 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** de Koning, Jan (2 December 2013). ["Paulse: Remove the Quota Label"](https://rugby365.com/countries/south-africa/paulse-remove-the-quota-label). *Rugby 365*. Retrieved 24 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Boshoff, Gary (15 November 2004). ["Breyton Makes History"](https://www.news24.com/news24/breyton-makes-history-20041115). *News12*. Retrieved 24 October 2020.

## External links

- [Breyton Paulse](https://historical-stats.epcrugby.com/player/?PlayGuid=BP952425) at [European Professional Club Rugby](/source/European_Professional_Club_Rugby)

- [Breyton Paulse](https://web.archive.org/web/2024/http://www.espnscrum.com/timeline/rugby/player/12696.html) at ESPNscrum (archived)

- [Breyton Paulse](https://www.itsrugby.fr/joueur_2083.html#noir) at ItsRugby.fr (in French)

- [Breyton Paulse](https://www.rugbydatabase.co.nz/player/index.php?playerId=11602) at RugbyDatabase.co.nz

- ["SA Rugby Player Profile – Breyton Paulse"](http://www.sarugby.co.za/playerprofile.aspx?id=18411&fullview=true). *South African Rugby Union*. Retrieved 25 June 2016.

- [South Africa caps, Part 1 (sporting-heroes.net)](http://sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1677)

- [South Africa caps, Part 2 (sporting-heroes.net)](http://sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1678)

- [South Africa caps, Part 3 (sporting-heroes.net)](http://sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=2073)

Squads v t e South Africa squad – 1999 Rugby World Cup third place Forwards Andrews Drotské Du Randt Erasmus Garvey Kruger Otto Leonard Le Roux C. Rossouw Skinstad Van den Berg Van Heerden A. Venter Visagie Vos Backs De Beer Fleck Honiball Montgomery Julies Kayser Malotana Muller Paulse P. Rossouw Swanepoel Terblanche Van der Westhuizen B. Venter Coach: Mallett v t e South Africa Sevens – 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens Squad Helgard Brink Warren Britz Ricardo Loubscher Breyton Paulse André Pretorius Bobby Skinstad Rodger Smith Paul Treu Wayne van Heerden Chester Williams Coach Norman Mbiko v t e South Africa squad – 2003 Rugby World Cup Forwards Bands Bezuidenhout Boome Botha Burger Coetzee Krige (c) Matfield Rautenbach Rossouw Santon Scholtz Sephaka Smit Smith Van Niekerk Backs Barry De Kock Delport Fourie Greeff Hougaard Koen Loubscher Muller Paulse Terblanche Van der Westhuizen Van der Westhuyzen Willemse Coach: Rudolf Straeuli

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Breyton Paulse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breyton_Paulse) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breyton_Paulse?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.