Paddy Butler (rugby union)

Patrick Butler (born 1 December 1990) is an Irish rugby union player, who currently plays for Japanese Rugby League One club Mie Honda Heat. He can play as either a flanker or number 8.

This article is about the Irish rugby union player. For the 20th century Irish soccer player, see Paddy Butler. For the university president, see Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University. For the 8th/18th Baron Dunboyne, see Baron Dunboyne.

Paddy Butler
Date of birth (1990-12-01) 1 December 1990
Place of birthCashel, Ireland
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight105 kg (16.5 st; 231 lb)
SchoolRockwell College
UniversityUniversity of Limerick
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number 8
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Shannon ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2015 Munster 64 (35)
2015–2019 Pau 92 (22)
2020–2021 Yamaha Júbilo 5 (0)
2021– Mie Honda Heat 11 (5)
Correct as of 20 May 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010 Ireland U20 10 (5)
2014 Emerging Ireland 2 (10)
Correct as of 11 February 2015

Early years

He was the captain of Rockwell College in the Munster Senior Cup in 2008, having also played senior schools rugby in 2007.

Professional career

Munster

Butler joined the Munster senior squad on a development contract after being promoted from an academy contract for the 2010–11 season. He made his debut against Connacht on 27 December 2010.[1] He won the Man-of-the-Match award in the 2011–12 British and Irish Cup Final, helping Munster A to a 31–12 win over Cross Keys.[2]

He made his Heineken Cup debut on 13 October 2012, in Munster's opening fixture away to Racing Métro 92. Butler agreed a contract extension with Munster in January 2013.[3] He scored his first try for Munster on 19 April 2013, in a Pro12 fixture against Newport Gwent Dragons.[4]

Butler suffered a broken thumb during Munster's game against Edinburgh in October 2013, ruling him out for 8–10 weeks.[5] He returned from the injury in Munster's game against Connacht on 27 December 2013.[6][7]

Butler scored the winning try in Munster's 28–24 away win against Cardiff Blues on 1 November 2014.[8] On 30 January 2015, it was announced that Butler would leave Munster at the end of the 2014–15 season, after deciding not to renew his contract.[9]

Section Paloise

Butler joined French Top 14 side Pau ahead of the 2015–16 season, and left the club upon the conclusion of the 2018–19 season, returning to Ireland and joining up with the Munster pre-season training squad, albeit on a non-contract basis.[10]

Yamaha Júbilo

Butler joined Japanese Top League side Yamaha Júbilo on a two-year contract in January 2020.[11]

Mie Honda Heat

Butler moved to Mie Honda Heat, who also play in the Japanese Rugby League One, ahead of the commencement of the 2022 season in January of that year.[12]

Ireland

He has represented Ireland at underage levels up to under-20. Butler played for Ireland at the Under-20 Rugby World Cup in Argentina in June 2010.[13][14] Butler previously played for Ireland U-18. He was called into the senior Ireland squad for their warm-up game against the Barbarians on 29 May 2012 in Gloucester.[15]

Butler was selected in the Emerging Ireland squad on 26 May 2014.[16] He started in their second game against Uruguay on 18 June 2014, scoring two tries.[17] Butler came off the bench in the 31–10 win against Romania on 22 June 2014, a win that secured the 2014 IRB Nations Cup for Emerging Ireland.[18]

Honours

Emerging Ireland

References
  1. "Munster Tough It Out". Munster Rugby. 28 December 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  2. "Munster Prove Too Strong". Munster Rugby. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  3. "Nine Contract Extensions Agreed". Munster Rugby. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  4. "Close Run Affair in Rodney Parade". Munster Rugby. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  5. "Paddy Butler ruled out as Zebo injury adds to Munster woe". Irish Independent. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  6. "Penney Rings The Changes For Connacht". Munster Rugby. 26 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  7. "Hanrahan Stars As Munster 8 Points Clear". Munster Rugby. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  8. "Munster Scrape Win in Arms Park". Munster Rugby. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  9. "Contract Update". Munster Rugby. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  10. "Munster Rugby Sign Jed Holloway on Short-Term Deal". Munster Rugby. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  11. "Former Munster back row Paddy Butler seals move to Japanese Top League". The42. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  12. "Controversial ex-Wallabies star Folau set for return to rugby union in Japan". The42. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  13. "Ruddock leads unchanged side for opener". The Irish Times. 2 June 2010.
  14. "Irish out to hit English and semis". Irish Herald. 9 June 2010.
  15. "Ireland call for reds duo". Irish Independent. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  16. "9 Players in Emerging Ireland Squad". Munster Rugby. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  17. "Emerging Ireland Enjoy Back-To-Back Bonus Point Wins". Irish Rugby. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  18. "Nations Cup Secured". Munster Rugby. 22 June 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
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