Lock Chris Middleton was away from Wellington club rugy for several years, playing in the Waikato. Returned in 2017 fulltime and works as a firefighter.

Middleton made the New Zealand U19s at the start of 2006, joining several other Wellington players in the side who finished runners-up to Australia in the World Championships in Dubai - Adrian Barone, Nathan Fotuali'i, Scott Fuglistaller, Michael Hobbs, Greg Tweddle and captain and player of the tournament Victor Vito.

He slotted straight into the Norths Premiers upon his return in May 2006, becoming a Swindale Shield winner after just five games played. He then played the entire Jubilee Cup but missed the final after injuring his shoulder in his team's semi-final win over Petone, instead celebrating Norths' Jubilee Cup win over Poneke from the sidelines at Westpac Stadium.

Last year he again played most of the season at lock except for a couple of weeks in the middle of the season resting the same injured shoulder, forming an effective partnership with Api Naikatini in the set pieces, and so far hasn't missed a game in 2008 for Norths.

He spent his third and fourth form years at Tawa College where he made that school's First XV in fourth form, before transferring to Wellington College for 5th form, 6th form and two years in 7th form. He made the New Zealand Secondary School team in his second year in the 7th form, after previous playing for the Wellington Secondary Schools and for the Hurricanes Schools.