Leon MacDonald

Leon MacDonald
Birth nameLeon Raymond MacDonald
Date of birth (1977-12-21) 21 December 1977 (age 46)
Place of birthBlenheim, New Zealand
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Weight96 kg (212 lb)
SchoolMarlborough Boys' College
Notable relative(s)Jack Macdonald
Lynne Macdonald
Hoani MacDonald
Jamie Joseph
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Centre, First five-eighth
Current team Blues
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1994–1996 Marlborough 33 (62)
1996–2006 Canterbury 37 (48)
1997–2009 Crusaders 122 (327)
1998 Chiefs 5 (23)
2004 Yamaha Jubilo ()
2009–2010 Kintetsu Liners ()
Correct as of 23 November 2018
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1997 New Zealand Colts 5 (2)
1998–2005 New Zealand Māori 4 (15)
2000–2008 New Zealand 56 (141)
Correct as of 23 November 2018
Coaching career
Years Team
2010–2015 Tasman (assistant)
2016–2018 Tasman
2017 Crusaders (assistant)
2019–2023 Blues
2024 All Blacks (assistant)
Correct as of 23 November 2018

Leon Raymond MacDonald (born 21 December 1977) is a retired New Zealand rugby union footballer, and former head coach for the Auckland Blues rugby team, who played 56 tests for the national team, the All Blacks.[1] He played as a first five-eighth (fly-half), centre, and fullback.

Career

Born in Blenheim, MacDonald made his provincial debut for Marlborough against Buller in 1994. He played 122 matches for the Crusaders and seven for the Chiefs in the Super 14,[2] and played for Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship. He was a prodigious goal kicker. He is rare among New Zealand exported players, because he played even better after his return from Japan. In 2008, Sky Sport's Reunion awarded him the Crusader's MVP title for their Super 14 title-winning season.

He played for Burnside in the Christchurch premier competition. He made his All Blacks debut age 22, versus Scotland in 2000. He scored a total of 141 test points (14 tries, 25 conversions, 7 penalties) in the 56 tests he played. He has also appeared for New Zealand Māori, playing three games and scoring 10 points, including the winning try against the British and Irish Lions in 2005 in Hamilton.[3]

In the 2003 Rugby World Cup, he was shifted from fullback to centre by All Blacks backline coach Robbie Deans. This proved to be a failure, and the last time he played at centre. In 2005, he was shifted to first five-eighth during the Tri-Nations by All Blacks backline coach to cover for the injured Daniel Carter.

Japan

In 2004 season, MacDonald played for Yamaha Jubilo in Japan.[4] He played for Kintetsu Liners in Japan in the 2009–2010 season.[1] In 2010 he announced his immediate retirement from rugby, after failing to recover from a long-term injury. It was also announced in 2010 that MacDonald would become an assistant coach for the Tasman Makos for the 2010 season.

All Blacks

McDonald was appointed as an assistant coach for the All Blacks in 2024, a specialising in the attack area for the All Blacks. After five tests in the role, two of which were rugby championship games, McDonald decided to resign and left his role due to having differing views with the head coach Scott Robertson.

Cricket

He has also played for Marlborough in the Hawke Cup when they won it in the 1993–94 season.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Knowler, Richard (27 January 2010). "MacDonald confirmed in coach role". The Press. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  2. ^ "Rugby: MacDonald to help coach Tasman". The New Zealand Herald. 26 January 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  3. ^ Boughey, Steve (11 June 2005). "NZ Maori create history in Hamilton". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  4. ^ a b Smith, Louise (19 June 2005). "Orient Express is back on track". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2010.