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Colin Patterson (rugby union)

Colin Stewart Patterson (born 3 March 1955)[1] is a former international rugby union player who played club rugby for Instonians, represented Ulster, won 11 caps for Ireland and toured South Africa in 1980 with the British and Irish Lions.[2] He made ten appearances for the Lions, including three Tests, before a very bad injury ended his playing career.[3][2]

Patterson studied law at Bristol and played for English Universities and British Universities. He rejoined Instonians on his return to Ireland and was selected for Ulster and capped by Ireland B in 1977 before winning his first full cap for Ireland against New Zealand in 1978. He won eleven senior caps and scored five tries for Ireland. His career came to a premature end when he suffered a serious knee injury playing against Griqualand West during the 1980 British Lions tour to South Africa, after having been scrum-half in the first three internationals against South Africa.[4]

Patterson had a career as a solicitor. He is married to Trisha and is father to sons Graeme and Jonny as well as having a stepson, Stephen.[3]

His son Jonny captained the Regent House Grammar School side that reached the Ulster Schools Cup final in 2008.

Notes

  1. ^ Colin Patterson player profile Scrum.com
  2. ^ a b 'Colin Patterson. Scrum Half'. Lions Rugby, undated. Retrieved 13 May 2025
  3. ^ a b Michael Sadlier, 'Patterson: "I was due to star in Australia after the Lions tour. Instead, I returned in a wheelchair."'. Belfast Telegraph, 11 July 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2025
  4. ^ "WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Colin Patterson (born March 3 1955)". www.independent.ie. Retrieved 17 December 2014.