Fitting farewells for Investec Stormers team members

A lot is currently been said around official farewells for those departing members of the Stormers.

WP and the Stormers pride themselves on the team spirit and relations fostered in our teams and all departing members of our WP and Stormers “family” will be officially and appropriately honoured.

With specific reference to Breyton Paulse and today’s (9 May 2005) article in a Cape Newspaper, the following information was released on Monday morning to clarify any misunderstandings or misconceptions amongst members of the media.

Official Function for Breyton Paulse

In the light of various questions posed by sports journalists at the post-match team dinner at Newlands on Saturday, pertaining to an official function for Breyton Paulse, the following needs to be clarified:

1. Breyton Paulse is contracted to WP Rugby to play rugby for the regional Stormers team.

2. It was immediately decided once it had been confirmed that Breyton would be leaving for France, in discussion with the WPRFU President and the WP Rugby (Pty) Ltd Chairman, that a formal function under the auspices of WP Rugby and not the regional Stormers would be held after the last match of the Vodacom Super 12. (This can be confirmed by Breyton Paulse.)

3. The farewell function would be in the name of WP Rugby, to whom Breyton has been contracted since 1996 and not the regional Stormers side.

4. At an official Stormers team and team administration function on Wednesday 4 May, Breyton Paulse, Pieter Dixon and Helen Millson were all officially honoured by Rob Wagner, CEO Stormers.