Pat Sanderson

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Pat Sanderson


birthname = Patrick Harold Sanderson
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1977|9|6
cityofbirth = Chester, Cheshire, England
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height = 6 ft 3 ins (1.90 m)
weight = 16 st 5 lbs (104 kg)
nickname =
school = Bury Grammar School
Kirkham Grammar School
relatives = Alex Sanderson
ru_position = Flanker, Number eight
ru_clubyears = 1997-1998
1999-2004
2004-present
ru_proclubs = Sale
Harlequins
Worcester
ru_clubpoints = (35)
(50)
(75)
ru_clubcaps = 32
58
75
ru_nationalyears = 1998-present
ru_nationalteam = England
ru_nationalcaps = 16
ru_nationalpoints = (5)

Patrick Harold Sanderson (born in 6 September 1977 in Chester) is an english international rugby union player who plays flanker for Worcester, which he is currently captain of. He is the brother of Alex Sanderson. His early rugby union career blossomed at Bury Grammar School, Littleborough RUFC and then at Kirkham Grammar School and included his first international cap for the England 16 Group Schools team. He joined Manchester Sale (now Sale Sharks) in 1996 and was capped by England U21s and England A. He moved to Harlequins where he played in the 2001 Powergen Cup final, when Quins lost to Newcastle by 30-27.

Pat was first capped on England’s 1998 southern hemisphere tour as a 20-year-old, facing New Zealand twice and South Africa, and he won another three caps on the 2001 tour to North America.

At the end of the 2003-04 season he moved to newly promoted Worcester Warriors, as captain, he was instrumental in ensuring the Warriors remained in the Premiership. He started every Premiership game last in 2004/5 and Pat was nominated for Zurich Player of the Season 2004-05 and the PRA Players’ Player of the Year. This consistency resulted in an England recall for the Autumn test opener against Australia in November 2005. Despite some impressive performances in the 2005 Autumn Internationals and being made captain for England's tour to Australia in 2006, he fell out of favour with England when Brian Ashton replaced Andy Robinson as coach in late 2006 and has not featured since.

Sanderson is also a high-calibre sevens player, having made his debut back in 1997 in Hong Kong. In 2003-04 he played in six of the IRB World Series rounds including the three wins in South Africa, Hong Kong and London. He also helped England win the prestigious Hong Kong event. In 2002 he was also a member of England’s Commonwealth Games squad in Manchester.

Pat is the Chairman of the Professional Rugby Players’ Association and he is well placed to understand the problems players face, particularly with injuries. A fractured shoulder, two damaged knees and prolapsed disc have all kept him out of the game at different stages.

Sanderson committed his future to Worcester on the eve of the 2007/08 season by agreeing a new two-year deal, which will see him remain at Sixways until 2010.

External links

* [http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=10917 England profile] at [http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=Home.Home England-Rugby.com]
* [http://www.wrfc.co.uk/1466_59.php Worcester Warriors Profile] at [http://www.wrfc.co.uk/ WRFC.co.uk]
* [http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=3940&includeref=dynamic Guinness Premiership Profile] at [http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/ GuinnessPremiership.com]
* [http://www.scrum.com/1200_1205.php?player=3940&includeref=dynamic Profile] at "Scrum.com"