It's not what you think, says Breyton

Published Jan 11, 2004

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Cape Town's fairytale wedding is off for now after rugby star Breyton Paulse and his glamorous fiancee, Hailey Lesch, experienced relationship problems following a "disagreement". But they denied a sensationalist report in Cape Town this week that the speedy Bok winger had high-tailed it to Namibia to escape tying the knot.

Sunday Argus has confirmed they have not set a new wedding date after failing to keep the initial appointment they made to exchange vows on December 16 last year - ironically the public holiday known as the Day of Reconciliation and formerly the Day of the Vow.

The dream wedding has been put off while the couple work out their differences.

Sources close to the couple confirmed this on Saturday, and said they had not yet fully reconciled after a "disagreement" but would not say what the disagreement had been about. This followed this week's report in a Cape Town tabloid that they had broken up after Paulse got cold feet ahead of their scheduled December 16 wedding.

They have denied that Paulse, known for his elusive running, had second thoughts.

Lesch is to make a statement within days, explaining why the wedding did not take place.

Other allegations, which the couple deny, include that a top South African designer now wanted to sue Lesch for the R15 000 she failed to pay for her wedding dress and that Paulse had left her with a mountain of debt she made while organising the wedding.

A close friend of the couple said on Saturday that they were still very much in love and that friends were "sure the bumpy ride will come to a halt soon".

"However, there was a disagreement which is being worked out by the couple. The disagreement is nothing close to what had been reported by a certain tabloid newspaper."

Reports in a Cape Town tabloid and a mainstream newspaper claimed that Paulse had practically left Lesch at the altar by failing to pitch up for their December 16 wedding.

The newspapers reported Paulse had jetted off to Namibia after getting cold feet.

The tabloid also said that Lesch had been left with debt after Paulse failed to pay any costs for the wedding arrangements he had asked her to make, including a R15 000 dress designed by Errol Arendz.

The couple had apparently also bought a R1.4 million home in the plush suburb of Welgemoed and were to be married at Zevenwacht wine estate in Kuils River.

The tabloid quoted a friend of Lesch as saying that she (Lesch) was "done with Paulse". There were even allegations that Paulse's attitude toward Lesch had changed after he attended the infamous Springbok training camp, Kamp Staaldraad.

However, a close friend of the couple told Sunday Argus on Saturday: "The information reported in the stories (published in the newspapers) is denied. Hailey will be issuing a statement to set the record straight."

He said it was unfortunate that a disagreement, which any normal couple would have worked out in the privacy of their relationship, was now becoming the source of news stories because of Paulse's fame.

The friend told the Sunday Argus he had had long discussions with all concerned and it had been decided to issue a statement rather than discuss the allegations with individual media.

The Sunday Argus has also learnt that the Rugby World Cup may have been one of the key reasons why the wedding had to be postponed.

Sources said Paulse had been away for a month during the tournament and Lesch had struggled to organise the wedding on her own.

Another friend said Paulse had wanted to go ahead with the ceremony but the couple had decided to postpone the big day.

Asked whether the couple were still happy together the friend said: "They're fine, they're talking and everything is fine."

It has not been the first time that allegations have surfaced claiming there was trouble between the couple.

A magazine alleged recently that Paulse's mother was not happy with Lesch as his choice for a wife.

Since then, rumours and speculation have abounded that this was, in fact, the case.

- Fellow Springbok Bob Skinstad this week announced his engagement to his longtime girlfriend Debbie Wolff of Cape Town.

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