Paul Thorburn

Paul Thorburn (born 24 November 1962 in Rheindahlen, West Germany) is a former Neath RFC and international Wales rugby union player who played at full back and also featured in the Welsh international team.

Paul Thorburn
Birth namePaul Huw Thorburn
Date of birth (1962-11-24) 24 November 1962
Place of birthRheindahlen, West Germany
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight14 st 2 lb (90 kg)
SchoolHereford Cathedral School
UniversityUniversity College, Swansea
Rugby union career
Position(s) Full back
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
South Gower RFC
Ebbw Vale RFC
Neath RFC
Barbarian F.C.
()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
19851991 Wales 37 (304)

Thorburn was a prolific long distance goal kicker. He holds the record for the longest successful kick in an international test match (although not the longest in Rugby Union as a whole). He gained the record during the 1986 Five Nations Championship at Cardiff Arms Park with a penalty kick measuring exactly 70 yards 8 and a half inches (64.2m) against Scotland.

Thorburn was also in the Wales squad for the 1987 Rugby World Cup, during which he scored a conversion that won Wales third place in the competition.

He retired from playing in 1991. He was tournament director for the World Cup in 1999 and also a former special projects manager for the Welsh Rugby Union.[1]

In 2006 he joined Ospreys after leaving the Welsh Rugby Union, however he left the club in June 2010 to pursue other business interests.[2]

References

  1. "THE Ospreys have paid tribute to Paul Thorburn after his surprise departure from the Liberty Stadium". Thisissouthwales.co.uk. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  2. "BBC Sport - Rugby Union - Ospreys confirm Paul Thorburn departure". BBC News. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2013.


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