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.
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]
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