Leon MacDonald

Rugger
name = Leon MacDonald


birthname = Leon Raymond MacDonald
nickname = Rangi
birthyear = 1977
birthmonth = 12
birthday = 21
placeofbirth = Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand
allblackno = 993
allblackid =560
height = height|m=1.83
weight = convert|96|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position =Fullback,rugbycentre|capital=yes, First five-eighths
ru_clubyears = 2004
ru_proclubs = flagicon|Japan Yamaha Jubilo
ru_clubcaps = -
ru_clubpoints = (-)
ru_clubupdate = 2008-02-05
ru_currentclub =
ru_nationalyears = 2000–03, 05–
2005
ru_nationalteam = flagicon|New Zealand New Zealand
flagicon|New Zealand NZ Maori
ru_nationalcaps = 51
3
ru_nationalpoints = (141)
(10)
ru_ntupdate = 22 January 2007
super14 = flagicon|New Zealand Crusaders
flagicon|New Zealand Chiefs
flagicon|New Zealand Crusaders
super14caps = 92
5
7
super14points = (258)
(23)
(-)
super14years = 1998–03, 05–
1998
1997
super14update =
ru_province = flagicon|New Zealand Canterbury
flagicon|New Zealand Marlborough Rugby Union
ru_provinceyears = 1997–03, 05–
1994–1996
ru_provincecaps = 37
33
ru_provincepoints =
ru_provinceupdate =
other = yes
occupation = Professional rugby union footballer
school = Marlborough Boys' College
URL =

Leon Raymond MacDonald (born 21 December 1977 in Blenheim) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays first five-eighths (fly-half) and fullback.

He made his provincial debut for Marlborough against Buller in 1994. He plays for the Crusaders in the Super 14 and for Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship. He is a prodigious goalkicker. He is rare among New Zealand exported players, because he played even better after his return from Japan. Im 2008, Sky Sport's Reunion awarded him the Crusader's MVP title for their Super 14 title winning season.

MacDonald was born in Blenheim, New Zealand, and attended Marlborough Boys' College. Fact|date=July 2008 He plays for Burnside in the Christchurch premier competition. He made his All Blacks debut age 22, versus Scotland in 2000. He has currently scored a total of 131 test points (12 tries, 25 conversions, 7 penalties) in the 43 tests he has played. He has also played for New Zealand Maori in which he has played 3 games and scored 10 points. He scored the winning try for the NZ Maori against the British and Irish Lions in 2005 in Hamilton.

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 was the last time he was ever to be played at centre. In 2005, he was shifted to flyhalf against the Lions by All Blacks backline coach Wayne Smith. This again proved to be a failure as he was never to be played there again.

He has played for Yamaha Jubilo in Japan.

He has also played for Marlborough in the Hawke Cup when they won it in the 1993-94.

References

External links

* [http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,80,295,0,html/Leon-MacDonald Crusaders profile]
*All Blacks|id=560|name=Leon MacDonald