Born: January 26, 1940 – Auckland
Died: February 9, 2024 – Auckland
Test record: 9 Tests (1965, 1967-68) – 3 tries (9 points)
Tours: 1965-66 tour of Britain and France, 1967 tour of Australia, 1968 World Cup

Marist half/centre Paul Schultz played 32 matches for New Zealand – including nine Tests – during the second half of the 1960s.

Halfback in Auckland’s win over South Africa in 1963, he was called up to debut for New Zealand as a centre in the 1965 series opener against Australia. After the 13-8 loss, Schultz moved to five-eighth and helped the Kiwis square the rubber 7-5.

The 25-year-old was selected in the Kiwis’ squad to tour Britain and France at the end of the year alongside his older brother, hooker Bill, who had not been sighted in the national team since 1959.

Paul lined up at five-eighth in the first Test against Great Britain and at centre in the second, with Bill joining him in the latter. He also played in the third-Test loss to France at five-eighth – his 18th appearance on tour.

Schultz starred in another title-winning season for Marist and was Auckland’s halfback against NSW Country and Great Britain in 1966 but was overlooked for Test duty against the Lions. He returned for the Kiwis on the 1967 tour of Australia, showing his versatility in eight outings and featuring at halfback in the 35-22 second-Test loss at Lang Park.

Schultz played all three matches of New Zealand’s 1968 World Cup campaign in the centres, scoring a try in the 31-12 defeat to Australia in Brisbane and bagging both of the Kiwis’ tries in the 38-14 loss to Great Britain in Sydney.

After featuring in Auckland’s 15-14 win over Australia in 1969, Schultz went on to have stints with Northcote, Watersiders and Point Chevalier, playing to the age of 35.