Julie Patterson first ran on the field in 1985, back when women would be side eyed for telling anyone they played rugby. Four decades later she has added numerous committees, leaderships and roles to her rugby resume, all with a consistency that has helped shape the game in the region as it stands today.

Fondly known as JP throughout our community, Patterson began her journey with University of Canterbury, playing in the unwashed men’s jerseys that stewed in sweat and mud from the day before. “It was pretty gross, but that’s the way it was, and we didn’t really question it” she said. “That’s how much we loved the game. I was pleased not to be a forward at the time because they were always worse than the backs”. It was in those early days that she played over 100 games for the club, collecting 11 competition titles along the way.

Under the wing of her coach Laurie O’Reilly, who became the inaugural Black Ferns coach in 1991, JP was part of the groundbreaking international tour to the US and Europe. She was also a foundation member of Canterbury Rugby’s Women’s Advisory Board, where she served as Vice President, and played a key role in organising the 1990 World Rugby Festival in Christchurch, bringing together international, provincial and club teams.

Describing women’s rugby today as “poles apart” from her early years, it is clear JP played a significant role in that growth, yet she still credits those around her more than embracing her own involvement. “Laurie was the brain child, we just pitched in and helped”, she said “He was a man before his time and believed very strongly in equality and making sure everyone was treated well”.

As her playing career progressed to represent Canterbury, so too did her involvement off the field. JP was elected to the inaugural Metropolitan Committee and served on Canterbury Disciplinary Panel for 20 years, including three as Chair. She also spent seven years as a Citing Liaison Officer across National Provincial Compeititions, Super Rugby and home international games, playing a critical role in upholding the standards and integrity of the game.

After a particularly demanding year within the disciplinary panel, JP was named Canterbury Volunteer of the Year in 2016. Just a few months later, she was appointed Canterbury Rugby Vice President, making her the first ever female Official of the Union in its 137 year history, a role she held until 2019 before becoming our first female President.

“You can’t help but feel a certain responsibility being the first of anything” JP said. That responsibility was brought into focus during an U18 South Island tournament, “One of the fathers came up to me, and said, ‘I just wanted to congratulate you. I didn’t know Canterbury had a female VP – that’s fantastic. Don’t underestimate how important it is for these young men to see strong female role models.’ I couldn’t thank him enough, that was an important moment for me.”

Despite her multiple formal roles, JP has never left the grassroots game. A Life Member of the University of Canterbury club, she is still a regular on the sideline and has continued to lend a hand where needed, including helping with the club’s development side in recent years.

It was this way of thinking that led her to donate trophies for women’s competitions, after recognising the majority of awards were centred around the men’s game. The ‘Patterson Cup Most Promising Women’s Player of the Year’ has since been engraved with (now) Black Ferns Amy Rule and Jorja Miller.

Looking ahead, JP hopes for the game are simple. “I just want young people, male or female, to be playing rugby and enjoying it like I did. The camaraderie that you develop, some of my very best friends are some of the girls I played rugby with or I have met through rugby, and I just hope that’s the same for other people”.

Last month, JP was named the first female Life Member of Canterbury Rugby, a recognition that doesn’t just reflect her length of time but also the huge scope of her contributions. Speaking at the AGM, JP reflected “It is very special to stand amongst the titans that have this honour and it is a privilege to represent Canterbury Rugby on and off field. Volunteers are the heart and soul of our community with thousands of hours contributed – thank you your support”.

Canterbury Rugby CEO Tony Smail called Patterson’s contribution on and off the field nothing short of extraordinary. “For decades she has given her time and energy to every corner of the game, always with humility and an unwavering commitment to doing what’s right for rugby and our community. To see her recognised as our first female Life Member is incredibly significant, not just for what she has achieved, but for what it represents. It’s a milestone moment for our Union, and one that reflects the lasting impact Julie has had on shaping a more inclusive and stronger future for the game.”

Four decades on from first picking up a ball, Julie Patterson’s impact can be seen right across the game, not just in the roles she’s held, but what has grown because of them. While remaining ever humble saying, “I’m just a volunteer; I just happen to have spent a lot of my discretionary time on the sport that I love”, Canterbury Rugby president John Stanley, may have captured JP’s contribution best:

“When you look at where Canterbury rugby is today, you can see her fingerprints all over the field, in the committee room, and in the work that keeps our game fair and thriving”.

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Words by Hannah Yates

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