Paul Mitchell (rugby union)

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Paul Leigh Mitchell (born 1 March 1967) is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played as a hooker. He was born in Hāwera, New Zealand, and is the younger brother of former All Blacks coach John Mitchell. His wife, Shelley Meads, is a former New Zealand basketball player and the daughter of All Black Colin Meads; their nephew is Daryl Mitchell.

Mitchell grew up in Francis Douglas Memorial College and started playing rugby at Waitete when he was 16 in 1983. He played for King Country from 1988 to 1997 and again from 2000 to 2001, captaining the province and finishing as its most-capped player with 146 appearances. He also spent a season with Auckland in 1999.

In Super Rugby, he played for the Chiefs (1996–97 and 2000–01) and the Blues (1998–99). In 2002, he represented the NZ Divisional XV against touring Ireland. After retiring, he served as King Country’s head coach and later became the groundsman at Rugby Park in Te Kūiti.