James Paterson (rugby union)
Encyclopedia
James Douglas Paterson (born April 11, 1987 in Christchurch
, New Zealand
) is a native New Zealand rugby union
player, although he has dual United States and New Zealand citizenship due to his mother Deanna being a US citizen.
Paterson's first introduction to rugby was in 1999 after returning from 8 years living in Budapest
, Hungary
where his father developed and directed an Agricultural Trading and Consultancy business. He returned to Christchurch his home town and enrolled in Medbury Intermediate School where he played for the First XV. He then enrolled at Christchurch Boys' High School
where he went on to play for the First XV in his 5th form. After four years he was on the move again to Colorado
, USA where he ended up playing high school football
. Paterson impressed in a short period of time, eventually achieving Colorado State recognition for the most running yards in a season as a Wide Receiver & Running Back, winning a USA Football Sports Scholarship to the Colorado School of Mines
, Golden, Colorado
. In the off season for football and prior to High School graduation from Pine Creek High School
, Colorado Springs he along with his father, John, helped develop the Colorado Springs High School Rugby Club winning State in 2005. This team is now a frequent winner of the Colorado State High School State Championships.
In 2005 Paterson was duly selected for the USA U19 National Rugby team where he played in the U19 Rugby World Cup in South Africa and the following year Captained the USA team at the U19 Rugby World Cup in Dubai. Paterson then accepted a contract to the Canterbury Rugby Union - Crusaders in 2006 combined with a scholarship to the University of Lincoln College. He moved to Christchurch as a Crusaders wider training group team member. In 2007 he was selected for the New Zealand U21 team but suffered a minor knee injury so was unable to tour. Paterson played for the Canterbury NPC team for two seasons 2008 (one of the leading try scorers NPC)and 2009 collecting two NPC Championship titles. In 2009 he was named "One of five NZ's most promising players" in the 75th Jubilee of the NZ Rugby Almanack. In 2010 Paterson accepted a contract to Super 14 rugby with the Highlanders. As part of the move south he also signed up with the Southland Stags in the newly named ITM rugby competition (Formally NPC).
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) is a native New Zealand rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player, although he has dual United States and New Zealand citizenship due to his mother Deanna being a US citizen.
Career
Paterson currently plays provincial rugby for Southland, and has just completed his first season of Super 14 with the Highlanders.Paterson's first introduction to rugby was in 1999 after returning from 8 years living in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
where his father developed and directed an Agricultural Trading and Consultancy business. He returned to Christchurch his home town and enrolled in Medbury Intermediate School where he played for the First XV. He then enrolled at Christchurch Boys' High School
Christchurch Boys' High School
Christchurch Boys' High School is a single sex state secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is situated on a 12 hectare site between the suburbs of Riccarton and Fendalton, 4 kilometres to the west of central Christchurch. The school also provides boarding facilities for 130 boys, in a...
where he went on to play for the First XV in his 5th form. After four years he was on the move again to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, USA where he ended up playing high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
. Paterson impressed in a short period of time, eventually achieving Colorado State recognition for the most running yards in a season as a Wide Receiver & Running Back, winning a USA Football Sports Scholarship to the Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines
The Colorado School of Mines is a small public teaching and research university devoted to engineering and applied science, with special expertise in the development and stewardship of the Earth's natural resources. Located in Golden, Colorado, CSM was ranked 29th, in America among national...
, Golden, Colorado
Golden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...
. In the off season for football and prior to High School graduation from Pine Creek High School
Pine Creek High School
Pine Creek High School is a public high school in Academy School District 20 that serves the Pine Creek, Gleneagle, Black Forest, Northgate and Flying Horse Ranch neighborhoods of north Colorado Springs...
, Colorado Springs he along with his father, John, helped develop the Colorado Springs High School Rugby Club winning State in 2005. This team is now a frequent winner of the Colorado State High School State Championships.
In 2005 Paterson was duly selected for the USA U19 National Rugby team where he played in the U19 Rugby World Cup in South Africa and the following year Captained the USA team at the U19 Rugby World Cup in Dubai. Paterson then accepted a contract to the Canterbury Rugby Union - Crusaders in 2006 combined with a scholarship to the University of Lincoln College. He moved to Christchurch as a Crusaders wider training group team member. In 2007 he was selected for the New Zealand U21 team but suffered a minor knee injury so was unable to tour. Paterson played for the Canterbury NPC team for two seasons 2008 (one of the leading try scorers NPC)and 2009 collecting two NPC Championship titles. In 2009 he was named "One of five NZ's most promising players" in the 75th Jubilee of the NZ Rugby Almanack. In 2010 Paterson accepted a contract to Super 14 rugby with the Highlanders. As part of the move south he also signed up with the Southland Stags in the newly named ITM rugby competition (Formally NPC).
Primary schools
- Greater Grace School of Budapest, Hungary
- Medbury Intermediate School, Christchurch, New Zealand
Secondary schools
- Christchurch Boys' High SchoolChristchurch Boys' High SchoolChristchurch Boys' High School is a single sex state secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is situated on a 12 hectare site between the suburbs of Riccarton and Fendalton, 4 kilometres to the west of central Christchurch. The school also provides boarding facilities for 130 boys, in a...
- Pine Creek High SchoolPine Creek High SchoolPine Creek High School is a public high school in Academy School District 20 that serves the Pine Creek, Gleneagle, Black Forest, Northgate and Flying Horse Ranch neighborhoods of north Colorado Springs...
, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA (2005 Graduate)
Universities
- Colorado School of MinesColorado School of MinesThe Colorado School of Mines is a small public teaching and research university devoted to engineering and applied science, with special expertise in the development and stewardship of the Earth's natural resources. Located in Golden, Colorado, CSM was ranked 29th, in America among national...
, Golden, Colorado,USA - Lincoln College (2010 graduate in BA Commerce & Management)