Paul Thorburn

Paul Thorburn

Paul Thorburn in 2014
Birth name	Paul Huw Thorburn
Date of birth	(1962-11-24) 24 November 1962 (age 62)
Place of birth	Rheindahlen, West Germany
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	14 st 2 lb (90 kg)
School	Hereford Cathedral School
University	University 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. () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1985–1991 Wales 37 (304)

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.

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.