On the eve of the IRB Sevens tournament to be staged in Adelaide this weekend, Australian Sevens captain Patrick McCutcheon has signed a Super 14 contract with the HSBC Waratahs for the next two seasons.
McCutcheon has made his name as a Sevens player on the world circuit over the last three years, with his experience and leadership resulting in him being named captain of the 2009/10 squad.
However the Sydney University backrower has always maintained ambitions of playing in the Super 14 and will now have his best opportunity to do so after securing a deal with his home state which will take him through to the end of the 2012 season.
Born in Narromine in central west NSW and hailing from St Joseph's College at Hunters Hill, McCutcheon was named captain of the 2005 Australian Schoolboys team which also included Kurtley Beale, Peter Betham, Quade Cooper, Ben Daley, James Hanson, Christian Lealiifano, Ben Lucas, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Lachie Turner, Brando Va'aulu and Sam Wykes.
In 2006 McCutcheon joined the NSW Academy as an 18-year-old and was later selected as vice-captain of the Australian team which went on to win the IRB Under 19 World Cup.
A member of the HSBC Junior Waratahs, McCutcheon found himself on the verge of Super 14 selection in 2008 when he travelled with the NSW squad to Dunedin as the 23rd man ahead of their clash with the Highlanders, and was also taken to Christchurch on standby for the Super 14 Final. The Sevens skipper said he has used those experiences as a key motivation in striving to make it at the next level.
"I learned a lot going on that trip in 2008 and have always had ambitions to make it in Super 14, particularly with the Waratahs who I have been with since I left school," said McCutcheon. "Shawn Mackay played Sevens for many years and also made it to the Super 14, so I never lost hope that I'd be able to do the same.
"You spend a lot of time on the road with the Sevens squad, and certainly your game and body adapt to the fitness requirements of the game. That sometimes made it hard when I've come back to play for Sydney Uni or the Junior Tahs, but I feel I've been able to do adapt to both forms of the game and this is a great reward for that.
"My short term goal at the moment is to finish the season off strongly with the Sevens team, and in particular we're looking for a really strong performance in Adelaide in front of our home fans. We're having our best season in quite a while and knowing I may not get the chance to be back again I'm going to make the most of it."
The Adelaide Sevens kicks off on Friday at Adelaide Oval with the tournament concluding with the finals on Sunday.
Patrick McCutcheon
Position: Flanker/No.8
Physical: 187cm, 101kg
Born: 24 June 1987
Club: Sydney University
State Caps: 0
Representative Honours: Australian Schools, Australian U19, Australian Sevens