Rugby Union - by Craig Hill

Paul's off the rails
Andrew Webster
Sunday, July 15, 2007

WALLABIES hooker Jeremy Paul is "off the rails" and almost no chance of playing in the Rugby World Cup this year.

Despite being widely considered the best No.2 in the country, Paul is likely to be overlooked because senior management is convinced he has an alcohol problem and is a bad influence on the team.

A senior ARU source has told The Sun-Herald they believed Paul was "on the drink virtually every day".

Those close to the 30-year-old have been concerned for his wellbeing since he separated from his wife, Sophie.

But Paul - who is the most capped (72) Wallabies hooker - has hit back at claims he had drinking problem. "They can say whatever they want," he said. "They're the ones who have to explain themselves. I'd like to know how anyone can say that because they haven't been in contact with me whatsoever.

"I've always been a bloke who enjoys a drink. But the perception that I am a pisshead is rubbish."

During a pre-season camp at the start of the year, Paul challenged Wallabies coach John Connolly over players finding out they had been dropped in the press. Senior players and officials told Paul after that meeting he had done irreparable damage to his international career because of the remark

Paul's relationship with Connolly further deteriorated after he was told he was not in the coach's World Cup plans and should search for form playing with Australia A. Paul was ruled out of those matches because of a shoulder injury.

Asked if he believed he was being overlooked because of a personal differences with Connolly, he said: "I wouldn't like to think so.

"Knuckles [Connolly] told me when I wasn't picked in the Wallabies squad earlier this year that I was the worst scrummager out of the four Australian provinces and my lineout throwing was hit and miss."

The Sun-Herald has also been told Paul's life began to freefall when he started dating a 19-year-old woman he met during the Brumbies' mad Monday celebrations at the end of the Super 14 season.

"It all happened when he did not get picked for the latest squad," a source said. "He has gone off the rails. He is throwing his marriage away and throwing his career away.

"It is just a fling for her but it is wrecking his marriage and his career is in jeopardy. Someone needs to step in and tell him to wake up to himself."

Paul denied he was seeing someone else and had been caring for his two young children on the weekend.

"That [my marriage breakdown] has nothing to do with it," Paul said. "There has been a lot of rumour and speculation going on about me. I recently had lunch with the Brumbies chief executive [Andrew Fagan] because he wanted to clear the air because he said there had been a lot of stuff going around."

Paul last night attended the Brumbies' end-of-season dinner and has been dividing his time living in Canberra and Brisbane, where he has been working with a personal trainer four to five times a week.

He is one of the game's most well-liked players but he has concerned Wallabies coaching staff because of his "party-boy" reputation.

Pat Wilson, the ARU high-performance manager, refused to comment on whether there was concern for Paul.

"There might be individuals who are aware of his situation but nothing official has come across my desk," Wilson said.

Paul played in all nine Test matches last year and every Super 14 match for the Brumbies. But he is on the outer with national selectors, who prefer Waratahs hooker Adam Freier and Queensland's Stephen Moore. Paul's Brumbies teammate Tatafu Polota-Nau was considered the next best hooker, but has a a knee injury. Reds rake Sean Hardman is next in line.

In a recent poll on rugbyheaven.com, 54per cent of respondents believed Paul was the best hooker in the country. He had been at loggerheads with the ARU about obtaining an early release from his contract so he can join English club Gloucester.

Paul withdrew that request on Thursday and it's believed his wife has the passport he requires to play in the UK.

Technically, he can still play in the World Cup having signed a participation agreement and having made it clear he wants to play. But it is unlikely he will be named in the Wallabies' 30-man squad.

PAUL'S BRILLIANT CAREER
Born: March 14, 1977.
Test caps: 72 (14 tries).
Test debut: 1998 v Scotland in Sydney.
Honours: Won John Eales Medal in 2005.
Tours: Was a member of the 1999 and 2003 World Cup squads, and has toured all the major rugby nations.
Super 14: Has played 99 games for the ACT Brumbies.