Don Macdonald
Encyclopedia
Donald William "Don" Macdonald (died 12 June 1994) was an Australian rugby league referee and administrator.
Macdonald began his refereeing career in the Newtown District Junior Rugby League. He was subsequently graded to referee in the New South Wales Rugby League
(NSWRL), gaining his first first-grade match in 1967. He went on to control over 150 top grade matches in a career that lasted until 1979.
Macdonald was a no-nonsense referee who was not averse to sending off players for violent play or dissent, including Craig Young
, Johnny Greaves
and Ron Raper, Steve Kneen
, Kevin Ryan, Paul Sait
, Graham Olling and Bill Ashurst
.
Macdonald was also involved in some volatile situations after matches, being pelted with fruit by irate spectators and doused with beer.
After he retired from refereeing, Macdonald was elected as President of the NSWRL Referees Association from 1980 to 1984. He also served on the Referees Examination Board for a number of years.
Macdonald was awarded Life Membership of the NSWRL Referees Association in 1976.
Macdonald began his refereeing career in the Newtown District Junior Rugby League. He was subsequently graded to referee in the New South Wales Rugby League
New South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
(NSWRL), gaining his first first-grade match in 1967. He went on to control over 150 top grade matches in a career that lasted until 1979.
Macdonald was a no-nonsense referee who was not averse to sending off players for violent play or dissent, including Craig Young
Craig Young
Craig Young is an Australian former representative rugby league footballer for the Australia national rugby league team, the New South Wales Blues and a stalwart player over 11 seasons from 1977 to 1988 with the St. George Dragons in the NSWRL premiership competition. He played at prop-forward...
, Johnny Greaves
Johnny Greaves
Johnny Greaves is a former rugby league player for the St. George Dragons, Canterbury Bulldogs, New South Wales and for the Australian national side....
and Ron Raper, Steve Kneen
Steve Kneen
Steve Kneen is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership competition. He was also selected on the 1978 tour to Britain with the Australian side but did not play in a Test...
, Kevin Ryan, Paul Sait
Paul Sait
Paul Sait was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. A versatile Centre or running forward of the 1970s for the South Sydney Rabbitohs...
, Graham Olling and Bill Ashurst
Bill Ashurst
William "Bill" F. Ashurst is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s and '70s, and coach of the 1980s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and at club level for Wigan , Penrith Panthers, Wakefield Trinity, and Runcorn Highfield, playing at , i.e...
.
Macdonald was also involved in some volatile situations after matches, being pelted with fruit by irate spectators and doused with beer.
After he retired from refereeing, Macdonald was elected as President of the NSWRL Referees Association from 1980 to 1984. He also served on the Referees Examination Board for a number of years.
Macdonald was awarded Life Membership of the NSWRL Referees Association in 1976.