Paul is a specialist number 8, but can play, and has played, at blindside and openside flanker.
He has also spent some time in the second row. He is considered to be a lineout specialist and has extremely good ball skills.
Paul represented Australia under 21's in the 2000 mini World Cup in Auckland. He has represented the Australian Barbarians and, for the past two years he has been selected in the Australian Sevens squad. Born in France of an Australian mother, Dearlove's father is South African and his grandmother a Scot. Since he has eligibility for Scotland, France and South Africa, playing for the Australian Sevens team would immediately prevent him from exercising options such as playing for Scotland or South Africa, he declined the invitations.
He represented the Brumby Runners (Brumbies B side) at number 8 and was appointed vice-captain of the team, and he played for the NSW B side.
Paul is highly rated by coaches such as Jake Howard, Bob Egerton and Anthony Eddy. He is, as quoted in a recent article, 'tough, skilled and an intelligent player with an exceptionally high work rate'.
Paul was made captain of Sydney University First Grade team last year at the age of twenty-three which was a credit to him considering that players such as Pat Howard, Daniel Vickerman, Brendon Cannon, John Langford, Phil Waugh and David Lyons are all in the side and all have fairly strong opinions! He has played in four Grand Finals for Sydney University, captaining the side to the Finals in 2002.
Paul was called into Scotland's squad that toured Australia and made a try-scoring debut in a blue jersey when he played as a replacement against NSW Country.
A big thank-you to Ray and Margie for the information on Paul.