{{Short description|NZ rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Josh Renton | image = Josh Renton 2024.jpg | fullname = Joshua Renton | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|05|25|df=y}} | birth_place = Dunedin, New Zealand | height = {{convert|1.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|80|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | occupation = | school = kinnaird primairy school | university = | relatives = willim Renton | position = Halfback | currentclub = Valorugby Emilia | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2013−2018 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Otago}} | apps1 = 42 | points1 = ? | years2 = 2015−2018 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Highlanders}} | apps2 = 6 | points2 = ? | years3 = 2018−2021 | clubs3 = Zebre | apps3 = 42 | points3 = 15 | years4 = 2021 | clubs4 = Southland Stags | apps4 = 2 | points4 = 0 | years5 = 2022− | clubs5 = Valorugby Emilia | apps5 = | points5 = | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | amatcaps1 = | amatpoints1 = | repyears1 = 2012 | repteam1 = New Zealand Schools | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | repyears2 = 2014 | repteam2 = New Zealand Under-20 | repcaps2 = 5 | reppoints2 = 10 | clubupdate = 2 Apr 2021 | repupdate = 4 Jan 2017 }}
'''Josh Renton''' (born 25 May 1994) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a halfback for Valorugby Emilia in Italian Top10.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.valorugby.it/2022/10/dalla-nuova-zelanda-arriva-il-mediano-di-mischia-joshua-renton/|work=Valorugby Emilia|title=DALLA NUOVA ZELANDA ARRIVA IL MEDIANO DI MISCHIA JOSHUA RENTON|date=13 October 2022|access-date=13 October 2022|language=Italian}}</ref>
==Early career==
Born and raised in the southern New Zealand town of Dunedin, Renton attended the prestigious Otago Boys' High School in his hometown where he played first XV rugby, captaining the side in his senior year.<ref name="Josh Renton Otago Player Profile"/><ref name="Josh Renton Ultimate Rugby Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.ultimaterugby.com/josh-renton | title=Josh Renton Ultimate Rugby Player Profile | publisher=Ultimate Rugby | access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="Rugby: Game time key to form - Renton">{{cite web | url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-game-time-key-form-renton | title=Rugby: Game time key to form - Renton | publisher=Otago Daily Times | date = 16 October 2015 | access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>
==Senior career==
Renton started out his senior career with his local ITM Cup side Otago, debuting during the 2013 season against local rivals {{Rut|Southland}} while largely serving as back up to experienced Japanese halfback Fumiaki Tanaka throughout his first year of provincial rugby. Tanaka's return to Japan to play Top League rugby with the Panasonic Wild Knights in 2014 saw Renton become first choice number 9 for the Razorbacks. He played all 10 games during a disappointing campaign for the men from Dunedin which ended with them in 6th place on the championship log. 2015 was a much better year for Otago who finished up in 3rd place in the championship before going down comprehensively to {{rut|Wellington}} in the semi-finals with Renton once more being the province's first choice halfback, playing 9 out of 11 matches. 2016 saw the Razorbacks top the Championship log only for them to lose to {{rut|North Harbour}} in the tournament final which consigned them to another season of championship rugby in 2017. Renton missed the entire campaign as a result of a knee injury picked up playing club rugby earlier in the year.<ref name="Josh Renton itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics"/><ref name="Rugby: Renton’s season looks to be over">{{cite web | url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-renton%E2%80%99s-season-looks-be-over | title=Rugby: Renton's season looks to be over | publisher=Otago Daily Times | date = 10 May 2016 | access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref> He played for {{Rut|Otago}} in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the {{rut|Highlanders}} in the international Super Rugby competition from until 2018.<ref name="Josh Renton Otago Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.orfu.co.nz/otago-team/player-profile/86/josh-renton.aspx | title=Josh Renton Player Profile | work=Otago Rugby | access-date=8 December 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213134457/http://www.orfu.co.nz/otago-team/player-profile/86/josh-renton.aspx | archive-date=13 December 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="Josh Renton itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics">{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_30009.html | title=Josh Renton itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics | work=itsrugby.co.uk | access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="Josh Renton ESPN Scrum Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.espn.co.uk/newzealand/rugby/player/194681.html | title=Josh Renton ESPN Scrum Player Profile | work=ESPN Scrum | access-date=8 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Josh Renton Highlanders Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://thehighlanders.co.nz/our-team/player-profiles/647-josh-renton | title=Josh Renton Highlanders Player Profile | publisher=Highlanders Rugby | access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="Highlanders 2017 Squad Guide">{{cite web | url=http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Highlanders-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | title=Highlanders 2017 Squad Guide | publisher=All Blacks.com | access-date=4 January 2017 | archive-date=7 March 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307124831/http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Highlanders-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2021 he come back in New Zealand to play for Southland Stags in New Zealand NPC.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/125606947/former-highlanders-halfback-josh-renton-signs-with-southland-stags-for-2021-npc|work=Stuff |title=Former Highlanders halfback Josh Renton signs with Southland Stags for 2021 NPCdate=30 June 2021|access-date=30 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rugbysouthland.co.nz/newsarticle/105254?newsfeedId=1070314|work=Rugby Southland|title=Josh Renton makes the move South for SIT Zero Fees Southland Stags |date=30 June 2021|access-date=30 June 2021}}</ref>
==Super Rugby==
Strong showings for Otago in domestic rugby through 2013 and 2014 were rewarded when Dunedin-based Super Rugby franchise, the {{rut|Highlanders}} named him in their wider training group for the 2015 Super Rugby season.<ref name="Highlanders 2015 Squad Naming">{{cite web | url=http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2015_ISR/2015_ISR_Squad_Naming_HighlandersF02.pdf | title=Highlanders 2015 Squad Naming | work=All Blacks.com | access-date=8 December 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Serving as back up to All Black Aaron Smith and Japanese international Fumiaki Tanaka, Renton was limited to just a solitary substitute appearance in his first season with the Highlanders. He was however promoted to the franchise's senior squad for 2016 at the expense of Tanaka, but, injury ended his campaign early after just 3 appearances from the replacements bench.<ref name="Josh Renton itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics"/><ref name="Rugby: Renton’s season looks to be over"/> Despite his injury problems, new Highlanders head coach, Tony Brown retained him in the squad for 2017.<ref name="Highlanders 2017 Squad Guide"/>
==Pro 14== Renton played for Italian Pro14 team Zebre from 2018 to 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.zebrerugbyclub.it/il-neozelandese-joshua-renton-nuovo-mediano-di-mischia-dello-zebre-rugby-club/|work=Zebre|title=Il neozelandese Joshua Renton nuovo mediano di mischia delle Zebre Rugby|language=Italian|access-date=18 August 2020|archive-date=23 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023001838/https://www.zebrerugbyclub.it/il-neozelandese-joshua-renton-nuovo-mediano-di-mischia-dello-zebre-rugby-club/|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.zebrerugbyclub.it/le-zebre-rugby-salutano-otto-giocatori-che-lasciano-il-club-2/|work=Zebre|title=Le Zebre Rugby salutano otto giocatori che lasciano il club|date=29 May 2021|access-date=29 May 2021|language=Italian|archive-date=29 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529091659/https://www.zebrerugbyclub.it/le-zebre-rugby-salutano-otto-giocatori-che-lasciano-il-club-2/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==International career==
Renton represented New Zealand Schools in 2012 and was a member of the New Zealand Under-20 side which finished 3rd in the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship in his home country, scoring 2 tries in 5 matches.<ref name="Josh Renton New Zealand Under-20 Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/Player/Index/2239?team=Schools | title=Josh Renton New Zealand Under-20 Player Profile | work=All Blacks.com | access-date=8 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="NZ U20 squad named for IRB JWC 2014">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/24842/nzu20-squad-named-for-irb-jwc2014 | title=NZ U20 squad named for IRB JWC 2014 | work=All Blacks.com | date=23 April 2014 | access-date=4 January 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112212/http://www.allblacks.com/News/24842/nzu20-squad-named-for-irb-jwc2014 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="NZSchools team named for internationals">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/20535/nzschools-team-named-for-internationals | title=NZSchools team named for internationals | work=All Blacks.com | date=20 September 2012 | access-date=4 January 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019001832/http://www.allblacks.com/News/20535/nzschools-team-named-for-internationals | archive-date=19 October 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Career honours==
'''Highlanders'''
*Super Rugby - 2015
==Super Rugby statistics==
{{updated|4 January 2017}}<ref name="Josh Renton itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics"/>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; line-height:90%; font-size:95%; width:60%;" |- ! Season !! Team !! Games !! Starts !! Sub !! Mins !! Tries !! Cons !! Pens !! Drops !! Points !! Yel !! Red |- | 2015 || {{Rut|Highlanders}} || 1 || 0 || 1 || 17 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | 2016 || {{Rut|Highlanders}} || 3 || 0 || 3 || 16 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- !colspan="2"|Total || 4 || 0 || 4 || 33 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Northland NPC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Renton, Josh}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:Rugby union scrum-halves Category:Otago rugby union players Category:Highlanders (rugby union) players Category:Rugby union players from Dunedin Category:People educated at Otago Boys' High School Category:Zebre Parma players Category:Southland rugby union players Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Italy Category:Northland rugby union players Category:Valorugby Emilia players Category:Blues (Super Rugby) players