Paul Hodder

Hodder was born in Hamilton, New Zealand.[1] He played under-age rugby union for Waikato and New Zealand, and played 10 senior matches for Waikato in 1985.[2] He spent the 1990s in the north-east of England as a professional, playing for and coaching Middlesbrough and West Hartlepool.[3]

Hodder returned to New Zealand in 2001, working as a rugby development officer and high performance manager with Waikato Rugby.[3] He then spent four years in Japan as coach of the Kamaishi Seawaves. When the city of Kamaishi suffered extensive damage in the 2011 tsunami, the rugby ground became a relief hub, and Hodder and his team took a prominent part working voluntarily in local relief operations.[4]

Since 2015 Hodder has worked as rugby and cricket coach at St Paul's Collegiate School in Hamilton, New Zealand.[3] One of the boys he coached there is Samisoni Taukei'aho, who is now an international player.[5] In 2021 Hodder was appointed the school's Director of Rugby. He is also Head Coach of the Waikato Chiefs under-20 development team and is a coaching developer at the University of Waikato.[6]

An all-rounder, Hodder played under-19 cricket for Northern Districts from 1981 to 1983.[7] He played in four List A cricket matches for Northern Districts in 1986–87.[8]

Hodder and his wife Krista have five children.[1]

• List of Northern Districts representative cricketers

• Paul Hodder at ESPNcricinfo