Angus Macdonald (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
Angus James Macdonald is a New Zealand
rugby union
footballer. Macdonald has played for Auckland, the Blues, New Zealand Maori
and the All Blacks
in a career that began in 2001. Angus Macdonald is known for his versatility, as he has played in various positions in the forwards including Lock
, Flanker
and Number 8
. It was this ability to play multiple positions capably that led to his selection in the 2005 Northern Hemisphere tour, he joined Chris Masoe
, Neemia Tialata
Isaia Toeava
as All Black coach Graham Henry
looked to strengthen depth by breaking in players that could take up many positions. Macdonald was part of the champion Blues Super 14
campaign in 2003 and has captained his province; at the young age of 24.
Angus comes from a strong rugby bloodline as his father Hamish Macdonald and his uncle Doug Bruce played for the All Blacks
, while another uncle Roddy Macdonald played for Northland
and his brother was a Canterbury Colt.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer. Macdonald has played for Auckland, the Blues, New Zealand Maori
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
and the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
in a career that began in 2001. Angus Macdonald is known for his versatility, as he has played in various positions in the forwards including Lock
Rugby union positions
In the game rugby union, there are fifteen players on each team, comprising eight forwards and seven backs . Depending upon the competition, there may be up to eight replacement players. Early games consisted primarily of forwards that attacked plus a handful of "tends" that played back in defence...
, Flanker
Rugby union positions
In the game rugby union, there are fifteen players on each team, comprising eight forwards and seven backs . Depending upon the competition, there may be up to eight replacement players. Early games consisted primarily of forwards that attacked plus a handful of "tends" that played back in defence...
and Number 8
Rugby union positions
In the game rugby union, there are fifteen players on each team, comprising eight forwards and seven backs . Depending upon the competition, there may be up to eight replacement players. Early games consisted primarily of forwards that attacked plus a handful of "tends" that played back in defence...
. It was this ability to play multiple positions capably that led to his selection in the 2005 Northern Hemisphere tour, he joined Chris Masoe
Chris Masoe
Chris Masoe is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and currently plays for Castres Olympique.-Super 14:...
, Neemia Tialata
Neemia Tialata
Neemia Stanley Tialata is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. As well as representing New Zealand, he also plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup when available....
Isaia Toeava
Isaia Toeava
Isaia "Ice" Toeava , is a professional rugby union player in New Zealand.-Early career:Toeava attended De La Salle College, Mangere East, he played alongside Taniela Moa in the school's First XV rugby team. He represented New Zealand U-19 where he was named the IRB's Under-19 2005 player of the year...
as All Black coach Graham Henry
Graham Henry
Graham Henry is a New Zealand Rugby Union coach, and former head coach of the country's national team, the All Blacks. He played rugby union for Canterbury and cricket for Otago in the Plunket Shield. Henry was heavily criticized following the All Blacks quarterfinal exit at the 2007 Rugby World...
looked to strengthen depth by breaking in players that could take up many positions. Macdonald was part of the champion Blues Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
campaign in 2003 and has captained his province; at the young age of 24.
Angus comes from a strong rugby bloodline as his father Hamish Macdonald and his uncle Doug Bruce played for the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
, while another uncle Roddy Macdonald played for Northland
Northland Rugby Union
The Northland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Northland region of New Zealand.-History:Rugby was first played in Northland in the 1870s, and the first union was set up in the province in 1895, known as the Marsden Football Union. The Northland union was founded in...
and his brother was a Canterbury Colt.