Mark Donaldson (rugby player)

Mark Donaldson

Full name	Mark William Donaldson
Date of birth	6 November 1955 (1955-11-06) (age 56)
Place of birth	Palmerston North, New Zealand
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	76 kg (12 st 0 lb)
Nickname	Bullet
School	New Plymouth Boy's High
Occupation(s)	Hotel proprietor
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Half-back
New Zealand No.	781
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
1974 1975-1983 1984-1985	High School Old Boys Hawke's Bay Te Kawau
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1976-1983	Manawatu
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1974 1977-1981	NZ Colts New Zealand	13	(4)
Coaching career
Years	Club / team
1990-1992	Manawatu
Rugby union career

Mark William Donaldson, born on 6 November 1955 in Palmerston North, is a former New Zealand half-back rugby union player. Donaldson played 35 matches, including 13 test matches, for the All Blacks from 1977 to 1981.^[1]

Biography

After playing in the New Plymouth Boys High School's First XV for two years, Donaldson joined Hawke's Bay in 1975 and the Manawatu province team in 1976.^[1]

Donaldson, nicknamed "Bullet", first played at the senior national level with the New Zealand Barbarians, in 1977 in Australia. He was then selected for the All Blacks team during their tour of France in 1977, playing five matches (including two test matches).^[1]

He continued his success with the All Blacks in 1978 with wins against the teams from Australia, England, and Scotland, but missed the matches against Wales due to injury.^[1]

In March 1979, Donaldson played in South Africa with a World Invitation XV and then in the All Black series against France, Australia and Scotland. He subsequently lost his regular place in the All Black team to Dave Loveridge who was regarded as a more consistent performer.^[1]

He rejoined the All Blacks for the 1980 season against Australia, but was side-lined with a broken jaw after two matches. Recovering, he played during the All Black tours of Fiji and Wales. He was an All Black half-back reserve for the 1981 series against Scotland and the South African Springboks. Significantly, his only field time was during the historic 25-22 victory over the Springboks in Auckland when, late in the game, he replaced Loveridge, who was injured. Donaldson was instrumental in setting up the penalty play which resulted in the All Blacks winning the game.^[1]

As Captain, he continued to play for Manawatu in 1982, taking a mid-season break in 1983. He switched to the Te Kawau Club in 1984, but missed most of the year due to injury, returning to competition in 1985, until a new injury caused him to permanently retire from competition.^[1]

Between 1990 and 1992, Donaldson coached the Manuwatu side.^[1]

Statistics

• Number of tests with the All Blacks: 13
• Other games with the All Blacks: 22
• Total number of games with the All Blacks: 35
• First game: 26 October 1977
• Last game: 12 September 1981
• Games with the All Blacks by year: 1977 - 5, 1978 - 12, 1979 - 11, 1980 - 6, and 1981 - 1^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} "All Blacks website". http://stats.allblacks.com. All Blacks and New Zealand Rugby. 2008. http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile.asp?ABID=233. Retrieved 2010-06-25. 

External links

• Statistics on stats.allblacks.com

rugby portal

Persondata
Name	Donaldson, Mark
Alternative names
Short description	Former New Zealand rugby union player
Date of birth	6 November 1955
Place of birth	Palmerston North
Date of death
Place of death