James Pater
 Pater with England U20s in 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 2 July 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | The Leys School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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James Pater (born 2 July 2007) is an English rugby union footballer who plays for PREM Rugby club Northampton Saints. His preferred position is full-back.
Club career
[edit]An alumni of The Leys School, Pater signed his first professional contract with Northampton Saints in June 2025, having first joined the club's academy system in 2022 having been spotted playing at the Rosslyn Park Sevens Tournament.[2]
Pater came off the bench to make his senior debut in PREM Rugby away at Gloucester on the final day of the 2024–25 Premiership season.[3] The following season, Pater had a try-scoring home debut for Northampton in the Premiership Rugby Cup in November 2025, in a 26–17 win over Harlequins.[4][5] He went on to feature on the bench for Northampton in the Rugby Champions Cup against United Rugby Championship club Scarlets in January 2026.[6]
Pater was announced for his first start at fly-half for Northampton in the Premiership Rugby Cup against Leicester Tigers on 31 January 2026, and was a try-scorer in a 40–22 victory, kicking five conversions.[7][8][9]
International career
[edit]Pater played age-group rugby union for England at under-18 and under-19 level.[10] His performances included a breakaway try from full-back for England U18 against France U18 in April 2025.[11]
In January 2026, he was called-up to the England under-20s team and that summer appeared at the 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship.[12][13]
References
[edit]- ↑ "James Pater | Ultimate Rugby". Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ↑ Apicella, Liam (2 June 2025). "The Leys School James Pater signs first professional contract with Northampton Saints". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ↑ "'It would be a dream' – talented Saints teen Pater eyes European debut". Northampton Chronicle. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ↑ "'It was unbelievable!' – full-back Pater so happy with his first Saints home game". Northampton Chronicle. 2 November 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ↑ "Northampton Saints 26–17: Quick-fire Saints shoot down Quins". The Rugby Paper. 2 November 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ↑ "Costelow back as Scarlets keep it simple for Saints". BBC Sport. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ↑ Vickers, Tom (27 January 2026). "'Really beautiful rugby player' to start at 10 for Saints against Leicester Tigers". Northampton Chronicle. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ↑ Vickers, Tom (31 January 2026). "'Exciting times ahead' as Saints youngsters show their class against Tigers". Northampton Chronicle. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ↑ Fitzgerald, Gary (1 February 2026). "Pater on song to lead Saints into box seatby". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ↑ "Northampton hope for emergence of more young stars". BBC Sport. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ↑ Jaycock, Ben (4 May 2025). "Rugby Young Guns - James Pater". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 29 Jan 2026.
- ↑ "England U20 player ratings vs Argentina - World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026". Rugby Pass. 7 July 2026. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "England U20: Titterrell names side to face Bath United - Final game before Six Nations". Nextgenxv. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
External links
[edit]- James Pater at ItsRugby.fr (in French)
- James Pater at All.Rugby
- James Pater at RugbyDatabase.co.nz
