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We report a randomised controlled trial of external version in 52 women with breech presentation after 36 weeks' gestation; 83% gave informed consent to undergo the management to which they had been randomized. Only 5% of initial attempts without tocolysis succeeded, but 31% of the failures subsequently had a successful version under tocolysis. External version resulted in a small decrease in the frequency of breech presentation at birth (64% vs. 74%), and in an unexpected increase in the caesarean section rate (28% vs. 11%). The increase in caesarean section rate could be attributed to failed versions, which apparently greatly influenced the choice between abdominal and vaginal delivery. Our findings and data from similar research suggest that benefits of external version at term may not apply to populations with a low caesarean rate, unless versions are carried out with maximal efficiency (which, on the basis of available data, would imply tocolysis) or so indifferently that failed attempts do not influence the choice between abdominal and vaginal delivery.