TabHero: Jack Pattinson

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Tab: Hi Jack – first things first, who is Jack Pattinson?

Jack: Right, um, from Windsor, in Hatfield College, study Sport, play Blindside Flanker.

Tab: Good stuff. Straight to the rugby then: you’ve won 2 BUCS championships in 3 years – you must be pretty pleased with how your Durham career has panned out?

J: I’m very lucky. Before I came to Durham I would never have dreamt of playing at Twickenham – let alone 4 times! To finish with a win in the BUCS final for my last game for DURFC was incredibly special.

Jack (far left) and DU 1stXV winning the 2013 BUCS Championship at Twickenham

Tab: Take us through this season – rollercoaster ride?

J: Without a doubt. Losing in the final last year meant that we went in to pre-season very determined and motivated to not let it happen again. I hit the ground running at the start of the season as ‘Man of the Match’ against Oxford Blues but then a week before the England Students trials I injured my back quite badly (two disc bulges) and was side-lined for around 8 weeks. This was a seriously tough time for me as I hadn’t had a long term injury before and I missed a number of games I would have loved to have been fit for. But I managed to prove a lot of people wrong and get fit in time for the Cup Quarter-final, so all’s well that ends well. I must have had a great comeback game as I got re-called in to the England Students squad to face Wales the next week.

Tab: So a pretty tricky start to the season. Did life get a little easier?

J: I don’t think “easier” is the right word but by the time the semi-final came along I thought I was just beginning to peak in the season at the right time. I put in a good, solid performance and the minute the whistle blew I was thinking of Twickenham – which, thankfully, turned out to be my best game of the season. There was so much emotion and adrenaline going in to the game that we just gave it everything and I was so pumped that I had peaked at just the right time. I look back on that day with complete pride and no regrets whatsoever and that’s all that matters.

Lining up for England Students

Tab: Had a chance to play any rugby outside of Durham or been wrapped up in cotton wool?

J: (laughs) Not a chance. I’ve played for England Students for two seasons since 2011 and also training with Newcastle Falcons since January.

Tab: Oh right, so…

J: (jokingly) Hold on, I’m not done yet. Before Durham I was lucky enough to play for the University of Queensland Premier XV in Australia, alongside Pat Howard (ex-Wallaby legend), which was an amazing experience. And before that I had the slightly less glamorous but still great experience of playing for the Henley Hawks in National League 1.

Tab: All done?

J: (laughs) Don’t get cocky. Next question.

Tab: Your promotional video’s been doing the rounds, big hopes for the future?

J: I’m all set for talks with Gloucester in a couple of weeks, so I’m hoping something develops with them as that would be a dream. If things with Gloucester don’t work out, I’ll still be determined to play professional rugby – Ealing have just been promoted to the Championship and they have shown some interest, which may be a route for me to take.

Tab: Going back to the video, three tear-jerking moments?

J: Well, none of them have made me cry yet, but the final clip, the try at Twickenham in front of 20,000 people which I ran in from 70m out, that was special. I get immense satisfaction from watching the dump tackle against Newcastle last year but I think the try against Brazil trumps it, one to tell the grandkids!

Tab: Something else is doing the rounds too, we’ve heard rumours you’ll be fighting the Northumbria Captain at BeatBoxing?

J:  (pause) Yeah, I’m getting him in the ring on the 9th June in Academy. I’ve heard a lot of rumours about how big he is and all that but I’ve been training hard for about 4 weeks now and I’m hoping I can get the win – you’ll have to come and see though.

Tab: How hard is he going to hit the canvas?

J: To be honest, I’m not too sure there will be a knock out. I think my best chance is to work his body and tire him out. Either way, it should be a great fight and I’m really looking forward to it.

The event that took Newcastle by storm will be featuring Jack next month

Tab: Hanging up the gloves, what do you think of Durham’s chances next year?

J: They have a good chance of going all the way again. Everyone knows how much hard work is required and they’re a tight knit bunch. There are some talented players coming through the teams and the club in a great place at the moment but nothing’s a given. Nonetheless, I’d love to be in the stands next season watching the boys at Twickenham!

Tab: Any supporters who’ve stood out this season?

J: There are a few people who stand out but as cringe as it sounds, my Dad is one of our most loyal supporters. He’s rarely missed a game since I started playing for Durham and he drives 600 mile round trips up from London no matter where, when or who we are playing. You can’t really trump that level of commitment from a supporter.

Tab: You were a man possessed at Twickenham with quite a scary look in your eye, just a tactic?

J: (Laughs) Ye, a few people have said that to me. I was very emotional in the build-up to the game and I knew I couldn’t leave the pitch with any regrets. Although I probably look quite crazy from the stands, I’m fairly calm in my own head.

Tab: Generic question to finish up – rugby hero?

J: You know I don’t actually really have a rugby hero. To be honest, I am much more of a football fan than anything else, it’s players like Alan Shearer that I’ve always idolised.

Tab: On that bombshell…