Paul Renton

Paul John Renton (15 September 1962 – 2 August 2017) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A loose forward, Renton played the majority of his games as a flanker. Paul and his wife Marie won Hawke's Bay Farmer of the Year in 2017.

Paul Renton

Birth name	Paul John Renton
Date of birth	15 September 1962
Date of death	2 August 2017 (aged 54)
Place of death	Mangatahi, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
School	Rathkeale College
Notable relative(s)	Hugh Renton (son)
Spouse	Marie Tait ​ (m. 1990)​
Children	Three
Occupation(s)	Farmer
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1983 1984–85 1986–89 Manawatu Mid Canterbury Hawke's Bay 1 21 44 (0) (16) 44 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1980 1983 1984 1986 1988–89 NZ Secondary Schools NZ Colts NZ Juniors NZ Emerging Players NZ Divisional XV 3 4 5 6 (4) (0) (0) (8)

Early life and family

Born on 15 September 1962, Renton was the son of John and Margaret Renton.[1] He grew up on his family's farm, "Glenmore", at Mangatahi, west of Hastings.[2] He was educated at Rathkeale College, where he played in the 1st XV rugby team, and represented New Zealand Secondary Schools in 1980.[3] The same year he played one match at number 8 for a Wairarapa Bush Invitational XV.[3] He went on to Massey University, gaining a Diploma of Agriculture in 1983.[2]

Representative rugby

While at Massey, Renton played one game as a flanker for Manawatu in 1983.[2][4] He then represented Mid Canterbury for the following two seasons, scoring four tries in all, with all but one of his 21 appearances being at number 8.[4] Renton completed his provincial career with Hawke's Bay, playing 44 matches and scoring 11 tries for the union between 1986 and 1989.[4] Two of those games were at number 8, with the remainder at flanker.[4]

Renton played for various national age-group and second-tier sides throughout his rugby career and was on the fringes of selection for the All Blacks.[5] He played three matches for the New Zealand Colts (under-21) in 1983, and four for New Zealand Juniors (under-23) the next year.[4] He had five games for a New Zealand Emerging Players team in 1986, and in 1987 and 1988 he played as a flanker in All Blacks trials, scoring a try in both.[4] In 1988 and 1989, Renton was selected for the New Zealand Divisional XV, playing six matches and scoring two tries.[4]

Over his career, Renton played 90 first-class matches and scored 20 tries.[4]

Later life

Renton married Marie Tait in 1990, and they went on to have three children, including Hurricanes player Hugh Renton.[2][3] In 1996, the couple took over "Glenmore" from Renton's parents, and in 2017 they won the farmer of the year title at the Hawke's Bay Primary Sector Awards.[3] Renton died at "Glenmore" on 2 August 2017.[1] Renton had been struggling with a short spell of stress and depression, and took his own life on his farm.[6]

References

1. "Paul Renton death notice". Hawke's Bay Today. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
2. Sharpe, Marty (4 August 2017). "Farming and rugby communities mourn loss of 'local hero' Paul Renton". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
3. "Renton's shock death". Guardian Online. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
4. Geertson, Kerry. "Paul John Renton". New Zealand Rugby History. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
5. "Showgrounds packed as Farmer of the Year Paul Renton farewelled". New Zealand Herald. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
6. "Strong support couldn't stop farmer's suicide". Otago Daily Times. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2020.