- Chris Paterson
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For those of a similar name, see Chris Patterson.
Chris Paterson 
Full name Christopher Douglas Paterson Date of birth 30 March 1978 Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Weight 12 st 8 lb (80 kg) School Galashiels Academy Occupation(s) Professional rugby union player Rugby union career Playing career Position Fullback / Fly-half / Wing Amateur clubs Years Club / team 1996–1999 Gala RFC correct as of 24 July 2007. Professional / senior clubs Years Club / team Caps (points) 1998
1999–2007
2007–2008
2008–presentGlasgow
Edinburgh
Gloucester
Edinburgh2
89
14
49(0)
(530)
(38)
(483)correct as of 17 February 2011. National team(s) Years Club / team Caps (points) 1999–present Scotland 109 (809) correct as of 1 October 2011. Chris Paterson (born 30 March 1978 in Edinburgh) is a Scotland internationalist who plays for RaboDirect Pro12 side Edinburgh Rugby. He is Scotland’s record cap and points holder with 109 caps and 809 points. Paterson is capable in a range of positions, including fullback, wing and fly-half. In recent years Paterson has played the majority of his rugby as fullback. He is a firm favourite with Scotland fans due to his unwavering commitment to his country.
Contents
Early career
Paterson started his rugby career with hometown club Gala, the highlight being a solo try that won Gala the 1999 Scottish Cup at Murrayfield. Soon after Paterson turned professional by signing for Glasgow where he played only two games before signing for Edinburgh Rugby. In becoming a professional player he dropped out from Edinburgh University where he was studying to become a PE teacher.[1]
Edinburgh
From 2000-2002 Paterson played in the Magners League predecessor competition the Scottish/Welsh League (prior to the addition of Irish teams). He was part of the Edinburgh squad that reached the Heineken cup quarter finals in 2003/2004. For seven years he was a mainstay of the Edinburgh squad. With the ongoing dispute between the SRU and then Edinburgh Rugby owner Bob Carruthers over the refusal to release Edinburgh players for a pre 2007 World Cup training camp, Paterson left Edinburgh for Gloucester by mutual consent. On the 24th July 2007 Paterson signed a 3 year contract with Gloucester [2]
Gloucester
His spell with Gloucester was largely disappointing due to limited game time throughout the 2007/08 season. It was announced on 2 May 2008 that Paterson would return to Edinburgh Rugby for the 2008/09 season[3] He played 14 games during his stay scoring 38 points, the highlight being a 50m breakaway try in the derby game against Bath [4]
Edinburgh
Paterson re-signed for Edinburgh Rugby in and has remained a fixture in the line up ever since. One of Paterson’s main assets, his kicking was evident in Edinburgh Rugby's last home game of the 2008/09 Magners League season which saw a 43–3 home win against Newport Gwent Dragons on 9 May 2009. Paterson scored 28 points, kicking nine from nine with five penalties, four conversions and a try.
As of 16 September 2011 Paterson is currently 5th highest points scorer in RaboDirect Pro12 history with 773 points (20T 113C 4D 145P) [5]
International career
Paterson earned his first cap for Scotland against Spain in the 1999 Rugby World Cup as a fullback. This was his only appearance during the 1999 World Cup. Scotland went on to reach the quarter finals before losing 30-18 to New Zealand.
In his next appearance during the 2000 Six Nations Championship game versus France, Paterson scored his first points for Scotland converting two penalties and a conversion in the 16- 28 loss. Later that year Paterson scored his first Scotland try during the 2000 tour of New Zealand during the 48-14 loss at Eden Park, Auckland.
During the subsequent years Paterson became a fixture in the Scotland team. His consistent performance for club and country earned him a place in Scotland’s 2003 Rugby World Cup squad.
During Scotland’s opening 2003 Rugby World Cup game Paterson scored 2 tries and kicked a conversion and a penalty during a 32-11 win against Japan. In the next game against the United States Paterson scored 19 points, including a try, during a 39-15 win. Paterson played in the subsequent win and loss against Fiji and France to help Scotland qualify for the quarter final stage. In the 2003_Rugby_World_Cup#Quarter-finalsScotland lost 33-16 to Australia at Lang Park, Brisbane
Paterson scored 71 points during the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
On 15 November 2004 during Scotland's record 100-8 win [6] over Japan game at McDiarmid Park, Perth he overtook Andy Irvine to become Scotland's second highest points scorer, behind Gavin Hastings. He scored 40 points (three tries, 11 conversions and one penalty). This remains a record points haul for a Scottish player in a test match.
Two weeks later on the 27th November 2004 against South Africa he became the youngest, and lightest, Scottish player ever to earn 50 caps, aged 26, and weighing in at 78 kg.
On 26 February 2005, Paterson equalled the scoring record set by Gavin Hastings for one game of six penalties converted in the 18–13 win over Italy. Paterson was the BBC's full-back of the 2005 Six Nations Championship.
As a result of his incredibly reliable kicking and elusive running from full-back during the 2005 Six Nations Championship, especially in the Calcutta Cup game, Paterson's omission from Clive Woodward's squad for the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand surprised many critics and fans alike. This was to fuelled criticism that Woodward had placed too much reliance upon his England team who won the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Ultimately, Woodward’s 2005 Lions were unsuccessful losing the test series 3-0.
Paterson played as part of a resurgent Scotland team of the 2006 Six Nations Championship who recorded wins over France, England & Italy to finish 3rd in the table. This remains Scotland’s best finish since the 5 Nations became the 6 Nations with the addition of Italy in 2000.
Paterson was captain during the 2007 Six Nations Championship as Jason White was injured.[7]
Paterson was picked in Scotland’s 2007 Rugby World Cup squad. This his 3rd World Cup campaign. Similarly, with the previous two in 1999 & 2003 Scotland exited in the quarter final stage losing 19-13 to Argentina at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis. Paterson played in played in all 5 of Scotland’s games scoring 46 points.
On 9 February 2008, Paterson earned his 83rd cap for Scotland against Wales, passing the record of Gregor Townsend for a Scottish back. Scotland then went on to lose this match.
Later that year on 14 June 2008 he won his 88th cap to break Scott Murray's Scotland appearance record and was named man of the match in Scotland's 26–14 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires. During the 2009 Autumn International against Australia, Paterson scored the winning points in Scotland's historic 9-8 win. This was Scotland’s first win over Australia for 27 years.
On 7 February 2010, Paterson won his 99th cap in Scotland's opening 2010 Six Nations Championship match against France.[8]
On Saturday 13 February 2010 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Paterson became the first player to reach 100 caps for Scotland when he played in the defeat against Wales.[9] In the same game Paterson was seriously injured, suffering a split kidney which forced him to miss the rest of the season. In the same game Rory Lamont suffered cruciate ligament damage which ended his season, and Thom Evans suffered a potentially life threatening neck injury in a collision with Lee Byrne.[10] This injury forced Evans to retire from rugby aged just 25.[11]
Later that year on Saturday 20 November 2010 Paterson gained his 101st cap in a 21-17 win against current world champions, South Africa, at Murrayfield coming on for the final 8 minutes.[12] Along with Nikki Walker and Nathan Hines, he was one of three players in that match who had also been in the Scotland team that beat South Africa in 2002.[13]
During the 2011 Six Nations Championship Paterson was the 23rd man in the squad when he travelled to Paris but played no part. Following Scotland's poor defeat to Wales in the second game of the tournament, Paterson was recalled to the starting 15 for the Ireland, England and Italy games. In addition to scoring 31 points with the boot in these three matches he justified his inclusion with an impressive try-saving tackle on Ben Foden, when the England Fullback seemed certain to score.[14] This helped to keep Scotland in with a chance of winning the game until the last few minutes, although they eventually lost 22-16.[15] The following week he made an almost identical try-saving tackle against Luke McLean during Scotland's 21-8 victory over Italy.[16] In the latter match, Paterson also became only the fifth player to score more than 400 points in the history of the Five/Six Nations Tournament.[17]
Testament to Paterson’s committed performances during the 2011 Six Nations Championship he featured in several rugby journalists ‘Team of the Championship’[18][19]
On the 22 August 2011 Paterson was selected in Scotland's 2011 Rugby World Cup squad meaning this would be in 4th Rugby World Cup.[20]
Paterson scored 14 points in Scotland's opening game of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in the 34-24 victory over Romania[21][22]
In Scotland's second pool game of the 2011 Rugby World Cup during the 15-6 victory over Georgia Paterson made a substitute appearance in the 70th minute his 13th World Cup appearance[23] one short of Doddie Weir's record of 14 World Cup appearances.[24]
Kicking Accuracy
Since becoming Scotland’s and Edinburgh Rugby’s goal kicker during 2003 Paterson has amassed 1860 points.
He successfully kicked 36 consecutive goals for Scotland between 11 August 2007 and 7 June 2008, not missing a single attempt during the 2007 Rugby World Cup or the 2008 Six Nations Championship. This run was brought to an end during the 7 June 2008 Test against Argentina. This is believed to have been a world record for consecutive successful kicks at goal in Test play since such statistics were first kept in the late 1980s; this record was broken in 2010 by Morné Steyn of South Africa.[25] During the aforementioned Argentina match, Paterson also overtook Gavin Hastings' long standing Scotland points record of 667, as well as equalling Scott Murray's record of 87 caps for Scotland.
As of October 1, 2011 he has scored 809 points for Scotland (22 Tries, 90 Conversions, 170 Penalties and 3 drop goals).[26]
For Edinburgh Rugby Paterson has amassed 773 points (20T 113C 4D 145P)[27] in the RaboDirect Pro12 and 287 points (9T,40C,0D,54P)in the Heineken Cup[28]
Other
His high profile in Scotland has been used in a number of marketing campaigns for several companies. He appeared on cereal boxes for Scott's Porage Oats [29] along with Thom Evans, MacSween Haggis used him to front a new product range [30]
See also
- Duncan Paterson, his uncle and former Scottish international
- Gregor Townsend, another former pupil of Galashiels Academy
- List of rugby union Test caps leaders
References
- ^ Bath, Richard (14 February 2010). "Profile: Chris Paterson". The Scotsman (Edinburgh). http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Profile-Chris-Paterson.6070657.jp.
- ^ "Paterson makes move to Gloucester". BBC News. 24 July 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/gloucester/6914437.stm.
- ^ http://www.gloucesterrugbyclub.com/304_3741.php
- ^ http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2008/01/chris-patersons-still-got-gas.html
- ^ http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/statzone/records.php#2349
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4002983.stm
- ^ http://uk.reuters.com/article/2007/03/14/uk-rugby-nations-scotland-idUKL1450660320070314
- ^ Stuart, Lewis (2010-02-02). "Chris Paterson to win 99th cap as Scotland ring the changes for France match". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article7012105.ece. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
- ^ http://www.espnscrum.com/sixnations/rugby/story/110426.html
- ^ "Evans to undergo second neck op". BBC News. 16 February 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/8513669.stm.
- ^ http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Spine-injury-forces-Tom-Evans.6393708.jp
- ^ Moffat, Colin (20 November 2010). "Scotland 21-17 South Africa". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/9207058.stm.
- ^ Bierley, Steve (18 November 2002). "Scots think outside the Boks". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2002/nov/18/rugbyunion.scotlandrugbyunionteam.
- ^ http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2011/03/chris-patersons-fantastic-try-saving.html
- ^ Standley, James (13 March 2011). "England 22-16 Scotland". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9422279.stm.
- ^ http://sport.uk.msn.com/rugby-union/news/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=156598417
- ^ Moffat, Colin (19 March 2011). "Scotland 21-8 Italy". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9428170.stm.
- ^ http://www.espnscrum.com/sixnations2011/rugby/story/136778.html?fb_ref=homepage
- ^ Gardner, Alan (23 March 2011). "Six Nations 2011: Your team of the championship". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/mar/23/six-nations-your-team-of-tournament.
- ^ http://www.scottishrugby.org/content/view/2058/2/
- ^ http://www.scotlandrugbyteam.org/content/view/149/86/
- ^ http://www.espnscrum.com/scotland/rugby/story/148621.html
- ^ http://www.espnscrum.com/2011-rugby-world-cup/rugby/match/93468.html
- ^ http://content.yudu.com/A1to3h/SRURWCMediaGuide11/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scottishrugby.org%2F
- ^ Griffiths, John (2010-09-13). "Morné Steyn's goal-kicking record, Tri-Nations clean-sweeps, Scottish captains and Shane Sullivan". Ask John. ESPN scrum. http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/123069.html. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
- ^ http://www.scotlandrugbyteam.org/content/view/149/86/
- ^ http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/statzone/records.php#2349
- ^ http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/statistics/players_statistics_archive.php?player=265&includeref=dynamic
- ^ http://www.scottsporage.co.uk/rugby/player-biographies/chris-paterson/
- ^ http://perfectstormdigital.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/macsween-haggis-shoot-with-rugby-ace-chris-paterson/.
External links
- Scotland profile
- BBC Gloucestershire speak to Gloucester Rugby's Chris Paterson
- Paterson backs Edinburgh coaches. The Scotsman, August 11, 2006
- Paterson back as Gunners captain, BBC, July 26, 2006
- Jovial Paterson gets serious over Springboks – The Scotsman, June 3, 2006
- Paterson reigns on Dragon's Parade with majestic display – The Scotsman, May 15, 2006
- Six Nations frustration fuels Paterson craving for success – The Scotsman, March 25, 2006
- Speaking my mind could have resulted in chop, says hero Paterson – The Scotsman, March 22, 2006
- Paterson wins further recognition – BBC website, May 7, 2005
- Paterson could still be solution at stand-off – The Scotsman, March 30, 2005
- Paterson praise is Scots' only crumb of comfort – The Scotsman, March 21, 2005
- The cap fits as Paterson clocks up 50 The Scotsman, November 27, 2004
- Chris Paterson Returns to Edinburgh Scottish Rugby Union, May 2, 2008
- [1]
Scotland squad – 2011 Rugby World Cup Forwards Backs Ansbro · Blair · Cusiter · Danielli · De Luca · Evans · Jackson · Lamont, R. · Lamont, S. · Lawson, R. · Morrison · Parks · PatersonCoach Scotland squad – 2007 Rugby World Cup Forwards Backs Coach Scotland squad – 2003 Rugby World Cup Forwards Backs Coach Scotland squad – 1999 Rugby World Cup Forwards Backs Coach Edinburgh Rugby squad Forwards Backs Coach Michael Bradley • Tom SmithCategories:- 1978 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Edinburgh
- Scottish rugby union players
- Scotland international rugby union players
- Rugby union wings
- Rugby union fullbacks
- Rugby union fly-halves
- Gloucester Rugby players
- People educated at Galashiels Academy
- Edinburgh Rugby players
- Gala RFC players
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