Chris Paterson ‘comfortable’ about retiral

SO much has changed in rugby since Chris Paterson turned professional at the end of the last century. But, as he prepares to play his last game this weekend, Scotland’s record cap-holder can rightly be proud of the fact that one thing has remained the same: his complete commitment to the cause.

Anyone who saw the teenaged Paterson turn out for Gala was aware that here was a naturally gifted player, but he was never one to rely only on his instinctive understanding of how to play. Dedicated hard work and self-discipline were hallmarks of his career as much as that natural awareness of how to beat a defence. Those qualities were necessary, too, for a man whose natural weight was not much in excess of ten stone in a sport where, in the professional age, everyone was bulking up and tackles were becoming more explosive by the week.

And, while renowned in his early days primarily for his running rugby, Paterson also became one of the great place-kickers in world rugby. He has scored more points for Scotland than anyone else, and of the victories among his 109 caps, many were achieved primarily thanks to his unerring accuracy with the boot.

Yet even the most disciplined and dedicated sportsman has to call a halt some time, and Paterson is convinced he has made the right decision. The fact that he will still be involved with Edinburgh and Scotland, in an as yet unspecified role, helped him come to that decision. But he had been edging towards it for some time, really since he ended his international career last year.

“It takes a lot of thinking and it takes a long time to make a decision, but I am really comfortable with the decision,” Paterson said yesterday on the Edinburgh Rugby website. “I made it a few weeks ago, in all honesty.

“Since my international retirement by body has been sore, I have had a few knocks and I’ve not had a great sustained period of being able to train and play that much. It’s just my body saying enough’s enough.

“I have always said I wanted to go out playing as well as I possibly can. I’m ready to move on – I’ve got an exciting future ahead within Scottish rugby.”

Paterson’s last game, Saturday’s league match against Treviso, will, in itself, be a low-key occasion. But it is fitting that it will be played at Murrayfield, where he has turned out so often for Scotland. “I’m just delighted to focus on this weekend’s game, to do my best in training and do my best in the match,” he said. “It’s tinged with sadness, because it’s something I love and something I’ve done for a long time.

“But my over-riding feeling is of happiness, enjoyment and fulfilment, because I’ve achieved far more than I ever thought I would. I have had such a great time: 14 years of love for my job.”

Asked how much the sport had changed since he first played, he replied: “It’s changed massively. It’s almost unrecognisable, but it’s changed grad-ually, and it’s not till you look back over the 14 years that you think so much has changed. You don’t notice change at the time if it’s gradual. I feel the same as I did on the first day I came in: wanting to work hard and wanting to improve.

“The personnel have changed, the coaches, the venues – there has been huge change within Scottish and Edinburgh Rugby, definitely an improvement, and there’s huge change in the game as well. It’s far more physical now and there’s far more scrutiny of players both on and off the field.

“I can only see that continuing, because it’s a great sport we have. And I’m going to enjoy working within it and watching it both as a supporter and as part of the workforce.”

He may well enjoy it all the more because of the improvement Edinburgh have made this season under Michael Bradley. Although Paterson did not play in the quarter-final victory over Toulouse or the semi-final defeat by Ulster, he will retain fond memories both of this season’s campaign and of previous involvement in the competition.

“I’ve had some great memories with the Heineken Cup over the years – beating Toulouse at Meadowbank and Wasps at Murrayfield, both while they were holders. This year it’s just disappointing that it ended in the semi and not in the final, but here’s hoping next year we can improve on that.” No player leaves any sport with a 100 per cent record and Paterson has suffered his share of defeats. But, on balance, he is justifiably proud of the service he has given to Scottish rugby as a player and the inevitable regrets are outweighed by a feeling of satisfaction. “I think there’s always regrets,” he said. “You always miss tackles here, or miss a kick there. Wee things that for some reason live with you: you think about games nine or ten years ago, and ask why did I do that? But you can’t change it.

“On the whole, I’ve had a fantastic career, and one I’m really proud of. And the further I get from retirement I’ll probably look back on it even more fondly. At the moment I’m still involved with it. I’ve got a week left and I’ll commit myself to it entirely until half-nine on Saturday, then hopefully walk off with a big smile on my face and look forward to things in the future.”