Chris Paterson - Player Profile
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Position Full-back
Weight 12st 8lb
Height 6ft
D.O.B. 30.3. 1978
A metronomic goalkicker and polished full-back, Chris Paterson made a huge contribution towards Edinburgh’s record second place finish in the Magners League in his first season back – contributing 159 points.
During the groundbreaking campaign, Paterson’s boot proved instrumental and he scored 29 penalties and 27 conversions while also weighing in with three tries and one drop-goal. His season highlight was against the Newport Gwent Dragons at Murrayfield in May when he racked up a 28-point haul.
Injured against London Wasps in December, Paterson regained the number 15 shirt during the second half of the season and proved he was far more than just a points machine – bringing an assured presence to both defence and attack.
Paterson, who can play almost anywhere along the back-line, broke two Scotland career records during the 2008 two-match Test series in Argentina.
In the first Test, which Scotland lost 15-21 in Rosario, he passed Gavin Hastings’ record of 667 points for his country, and the second match of the series, which the Scots won 26-14, was Paterson’s 88th international, surpassing Scott Murray’s record.
Paterson became Scotland's most-capped back in playing in the RBS Six Nations Championship match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in February 2008.
It was his 83rd international, passing the record previously held by Gregor Townsend, who, like Paterson, was a product of Galashiels Academy and Gala RFC.
Paterson is only the second Scot to score 600 points for his country, a milestone he passed when he kicked all of the points in the 18-16 win in the 2007 Rugby World Cup match against Italy in St Etienne.
Paterson made his debut in senior club rugby as an 18-year-old against Kelso in September, 1996. Against the same opponents, he scored the winning try and the clinching drop goal in Gala's victory in the 1999 Scottish Cup final at Murrayfield.
He joined Edinburgh in the 1999/2000 season, although he had previously made two appearances for Glasgow Caledonians and before the 1999 World Cup, Paterson featured in the Black and Red for the first time during a pre-season tour to Canada, a friendly against Gloucester and also featured against Newport at Kelso.
He celebrated his 150th appearance for Edinburgh against Munster in September 2008 and he is now just three kicks away from reaching a century of successful penalties for Edinburgh in the Magners League.
Away from rugby, Paterson enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.
