He’s the unassuming all-round nice guy in the Waratahs who remains an irrevocable leader and role model for players not just within his own ranks, but for the many across NSW whose dreams are to be just like him when they grow up.
Born on 24 June 1987, Pat McCutcheon was raised on his Mum and Dad’s farm in the small country town of Narromine in Central West NSW. Growing up, he played soccer and rugby for the Macquarie Emus.
His focus on rugby increased during his school days at Sydney’s St Joseph’s College. From there he played for the Australian Schoolboys in 2005, the Australian Under 19s World Cup squad in 2006 and made his National Sevens debut on the World Series circuit in 2007.
In 2006 Cutch also made his first grade debut for Sydney University during their Shute Shield Final against Eastwood at TG Millner. He has since become a reliable asset for the Students, applying his expertise in many of their Shute Shield Grand Final experiences.
With an in-built allegiance and distinctive leadership qualities from the very early days of his career, Cutch was named to take the reigns as Captain of the Australian Sevens team in the 2009/10 Sevens World Series.
In what was an eventful step onto the professional rugby stage for the then 22-year-old, Cutch made his Super Rugby debut for the NSW Waratahs in 2010 against the Highlanders. That same year he represented the Australian Barbarians versus England and led the Australian Men’s Sevens team to silver at the Commonwealth Games in India, before being called on to join the Wallabies on their end of year tour of Europe.
A series of strong performances earned Cutch a further contract with NSW for 2011, a season which saw him make nine appearances in the sky blue jersey. In the off season, while most were understandly cooling their heels, you’d often find him toiling away on the farm in Narromine.
Not a stranger to injury setbacks, Cutch’s next season in 2012 was cut severely short following a horrific ankle injury in round three.
Despite this, such is the admiration of the self-confessed country boy, that at the NSW Waratahs annual awards ceremony that same year he was awarded the medal for “on and off field” excellence and announced as Club Captain, a role he has held ever since.
Cutch went on to make 10 appearances for the Tahs in 2013 the same year he was handed the opportunity in the number 7 jersey against the British & Irish Lions during their once in 12 year tour to Australia. He was also named to Captain the Tahs, in what would be his first stint in the head role for the side, but was forced to withdraw due to injury.
It wasn’t long, however, until he was again called up as skipper for a NSW Barbarians side against Argentina in August 2013.
Cutch’s Captaincy experience didn’t stop there as he took charge of the Gen Blue side in the Pacific Rugby Cup in March 2014 against an Argentinian Pampas XV. He was also announced as the inaugural Captain of the Sydney Stars in the Buildcorp NRC competition as the team’s first signing of the 33-man squad.
Versatile could be his middle name, having played at Blind-side and Open-side flanker, No. 8, lock and scrumhalf during his professional rugby. Just last season he recorded stints as flanker, scrumhalf and No. 8, adding another eight Waratahs caps to his belt during the side’s first Super Rugby Championship victory year.
Cutch’s off-field efforts are just as impressive, renowned for his work assisting communities and grassroots rugby across NSW in activities, such as coaching clinics, health promotion and visiting sick children in hospital.
As someone who tirelessly commits to a range of causes outside of rugby, Cutch is an ambassador of the Raise Foundation and Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, sponsors a World Vision Child, and is a proud supporter of several other charities including Save our Sons, and Batyr – One Sock One Goal. In 2014, Cutch was announced as the joint winner of RUPA’s Community Service Award with Henry Speight.
Cutch is also currently in his second year of a Bachelor of Spatial Science through the University of Southern Queensland. He recently married long-term partner, Skye fittingly in a country wedding back in his home town.