Paul Steinmetz
Encyclopedia
Paul Christopher Steinmetz (born 26 January 1977 in Paraparaumu
, New Zealand
) is a retired professional rugby union
footballer. He made one appearance for the All Blacks
in 2002.
in 1997, but spent most of his first few seasons for the province as a reserve on a deep and talented squad. In 2000, he made 10 appearances including two starts in helping Wellington win the NPC championship.
In 2001, he finally solidified a starting position in the Wellington backs, which he held down through the remainder of his time with the province. His final match for Wellington before heading overseas was the 2003 NPC final.
, but saw very limited action in his first season. In 2001
he made more of an impression, scoring 3 tries for the Hurricanes, but still found starts difficult to come by.
For the 2002
, Steinmetz was drafted to the Highlanders and had the finest season of his career to that point. He started every game for the club and scored 5 tries as they advanced to the semi-finals of the competition.
He returned to the Highlanders for the 2003
season, and continued as a starter, scoring another three tries. However, it would be his last season in New Zealand as he signed for Ulster
for the following campaign.
in 2003 and went on to spend 6 seasons with the Irish province.
His appearances in his final two seasons were limited as he made the transition to player-coach and served as the team's backs coach in 2008-09. He scored his final first-class try in a Heineken Cup
match against Stade Francais on 24 January and retired as a player at the conclusion of the season.
and Keith Lowen were ruled out. He was an unused substitute for the test against France
and on 23 November came on as a substitute in the 77th minute of a victory against Wales
.
It would be the only international appearance for Steinmetz, who fell back down the pecking order in 2003 and left New Zealand to play abroad after the 2003 Rugby World Cup
.
Paraparaumu
Paraparaumu is a town in the south-western North Island of New Zealand. It lies in the Kapiti Coast, 50 kilometres north of the nation's capital city, Wellington....
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) is a retired professional rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer. He made one appearance for the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
in 2002.
Provincial Rugby
Steinmetz made his debut for WellingtonWellington Rugby Football Union
The Wellington Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the city of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand...
in 1997, but spent most of his first few seasons for the province as a reserve on a deep and talented squad. In 2000, he made 10 appearances including two starts in helping Wellington win the NPC championship.
In 2001, he finally solidified a starting position in the Wellington backs, which he held down through the remainder of his time with the province. His final match for Wellington before heading overseas was the 2003 NPC final.
Super Rugby
Steinmetz made his debut for the Hurricanes in the 2000 Super 12 season2000 Super 12 season
The 2000 Super 12 season was the fifth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2000, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi finals,...
, but saw very limited action in his first season. In 2001
2001 Super 12 season
The 2001 Super 12 season was the sixth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2001, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi finals,...
he made more of an impression, scoring 3 tries for the Hurricanes, but still found starts difficult to come by.
For the 2002
2002 Super 12 season
The 2002 Super 12 season was the seventh season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2002, with each team playing all the others once...
, Steinmetz was drafted to the Highlanders and had the finest season of his career to that point. He started every game for the club and scored 5 tries as they advanced to the semi-finals of the competition.
He returned to the Highlanders for the 2003
2003 Super 12 season
The 2003 Super 12 season was the eighth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2003, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi...
season, and continued as a starter, scoring another three tries. However, it would be his last season in New Zealand as he signed for Ulster
Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Ulster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Belfast, representing the Irish province of Ulster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
for the following campaign.
Europe
Steinmetz signed with UlsterUlster Rugby
Ulster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Ulster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Belfast, representing the Irish province of Ulster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
in 2003 and went on to spend 6 seasons with the Irish province.
His appearances in his final two seasons were limited as he made the transition to player-coach and served as the team's backs coach in 2008-09. He scored his final first-class try in a Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
match against Stade Francais on 24 January and retired as a player at the conclusion of the season.
International Rugby
A standout 2002 season saw Steinmetz earning All Black notice for the first time, and he was added to the squad for the end of year tour as an injury replacement after Carlos SpencerCarlos Spencer
Carlos James Spencer is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who currently plays at fly-half for the Lions in the Super 14 and formerly for the New Zealand All Blacks. He is well known for his flamboyant, attacking play and ball handling skills. He has signed to play for the Lions for 2010 and 2011...
and Keith Lowen were ruled out. He was an unused substitute for the test against France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
and on 23 November came on as a substitute in the 77th minute of a victory against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
.
It would be the only international appearance for Steinmetz, who fell back down the pecking order in 2003 and left New Zealand to play abroad after the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
.