Jeremy Adam Paul

A player of considerable natural athletic ability, Jeremy Paul became one of the premier hookers in world rugby. That said, one could easily have been mistaken for thinking he was a fourth backrower given his exceptional mobility and outstanding support play.

Born in Hamilton, New Zealand, Paul moved to Australia with his family as a teenager and attended Capalaba High School, south of Brisbane, from where he represented nationally at both U19 and U21 levels.

In 1998 he joined the ACT Brumbies, debuted against the Golden Cats in Canberra, won selection in the Wallaby squad and then made his Test debut against Scotland in Sydney. During his career Paul participated in some of the more memorable Wallaby victories of all time. In 1998 he played in Australia’s first 3-0 clean sweep of a Test series against New Zealand. In 1999 he was a member of the World Cup winning squad. In 2000 he enjoyed Australia’s first Tri Nations title and a year later he played in the historic series victory over the British & Irish Lions.

Paul was the most capped Wallaby hooker of all-time when he played his final Test in 2003. He finished with an impressive 71% win rate from his nine-year, 72 cap international career.

Highlights

1995
Represented Australian U19s.

1996
Represented Australian U19s.

1997
Represented Australian U21s when they won the Southern Hemisphere tournament.

1998
Paul won his first Test cap from the bench when he replaced Phil Kearns in the 1st Test, 45-3 victory over Scotland in Sydney. He scored his first Test try in the 66-20 defeat of Fiji at Parramatta Stadium. Paul made his run-on XV debut in the 74-0 Rugby World Cup qualifier win over Tonga in Canberra. He finished the year with five Test caps.

1999
Paul started the opening five Tests of the year, including his first in the run-on XV against Ireland at Ballymore. He was selected as one of Australia’s three hookers to his first Rugby World Cup. Paul came off the bench to win four caps during the tournament.

2000
Paul played in all 10 Wallaby Tests although each cap was won as a replacement behind incumbent hooker Michael Foley.

2001
Paul was the run-on No.2 for the opening Test of the year against the British & Irish Lions but ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee to end his season.

2002
Paul returned as the first choice hooker in 2002 and started in each of the seven Tests in which he played. 

2003
Paul started the first three Tests of the year before Brendan Cannon assumed the No.2 jersey for the Tri Nations tournament. He was selected to his second Rugby World Cup and played in all seven of Australia’s matches. Paul finished the season with 12 caps.

2004
He played 12 Tests but had to wait until the Spring Tour to assume the starting hooker role. Paul won his 50th cap in the 1st Test, 30-26 victory against South Africa in Perth.

2005
Paul was the run-on XV hooker for the opening seven Tests of the year but suffered a bulging disc in his neck, his C6 and C7 nerves shut down and he lost all strength in his arm, that ruled him out for the rest of the season. He polled 194 points to win the John Eales Medal as Australian Player of the Year.

2006
He won the final nine caps of his career. Four came in the starting side including his last Test, the 16-24, 3rd Test loss to South Africa in Johannesburg.