Paddy Jackson

Club

Lyon OU

Position

Fly-half

Nationality

Northern Ireland

Date of birth

1992-01-05

Birthplace

Lisburn, Northern Ireland

Height

1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)

Weight

89 kg (14.0 st; 196 lb)

David Patrick Lindsay James "Paddy" Jackson (born 5 January 1992) is a professional rugby union player from Northern Ireland. He primarily played at fly-half for Irish provincial side Ulster in the Pro12 and also played in France for Perpignan. He signed with London Irish for the 2019–20 Premiership Rugby season.

Jackson captained the Ireland under-20 team. He won 25 senior caps for Ireland between 2013 and 2017.

In 2017 Jackson was charged with rape, and in 2018 he was tried and acquitted. Following the trial and the publication of related derogatory text messages sent by Jackson, the Irish Rugby Football Union revoked his Ireland and Ulster contracts.

Early life
Jackson's family lived in Birmingham for a time but returned to Belfast while Paddy was still of primary school age. He left school with three A-level grades B, C and D, and took a place at the Ulster Academy.

Club career
Ulster
Jackson came through the Academy at Ulster. He made a surprise debut as the starting outhalf against Scarlets in February 2011. The young playmaker had represented Ireland at a number of levels and was included in the Ireland Junior World Championship squad in 2011.

Jackson primarily played at fly-half but can also play at inside centre. Jackson played arguably his best game against Connacht Rugby in 2012 when he scored a try, a conversion, and three penalties. He earned his place in the Ulster starting lineup including the defeat to Leinster Rugby and then the Heineken Cup 22–19 win over Edinburgh Rugby.

In 2014, Jackson and some teammates found themselves the subject of some controversy when a social media posting by Jackson came to light of them at a party, blacked-up, in slave costumes and holding an Ethiopian flag. Ulster Rugby apologised "unreservedly for any offence" and Jackson removed the post. The Irish Rugby Football Union were also involved in the handling of this incident.

On 14 April 2018, Ulster and the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) revoked Jackson's Ulster and Ireland contracts following his rape trial and acquittal.

Perpignan
Following his banishment from Irish rugby, Jackson signed a two-year contract in June 2018 with Perpignan in France. He made his league debut against Stade Francais in August 2018, scoring a try in a 46-15 points loss. Perpignan finished bottom of the Top 14 in May 2019 and Jackson exercised a clause in his contract allowing him to leave the club if they were relegated.

London Irish
He signed with