Stephen Donald
Encyclopedia
Stephen Donald is a New Zealand rugby union
player who plays at First five-eighth or Second five-eighth. Despite an international career that had not lived up to expectations, Donald, aka 'The Beaver', kicked the winning penalty in the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 for New Zealand. He played for the Chiefs
in the Super Rugby competition and has played for Waikato
in the ITM Cup. He played for the All Blacks
from 2008 till 2011.
Donald signed for English Premiership club Bath Rugby
for a two and a half year deal. Donald was initially, on 18 July 2011, denied a work permit, however, Bath appealed the decision against the UK Government and, with the support of the RFU, won their appeal against the refusal of a visa and Donald will now join Bath in the autumn.
The Blues also denied reports saying Donald had signed with them for the 2012 Super Rugby season
as a replacement for Stephen Brett
and Luke McAlister
who are both heading overseas.
Donald had been criticized throughout his All Blacks' career, in particular for their last minute loss to Australia in the 4th game of the 2010 Bledisloe Cup
in Hong Kong. He missed a penalty that would have put the game out of reach. Then in the last minute of the game he failed to find touch with a clearing kick. The Australians gathered the ball and launched a counter attack from which James O’Connor
scored a try. O’Connor kicked the winning conversion, and the blame for the loss fell on Donald. A cartoon by Tom Scott
in the lead-up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final
described it as a "nightmare" if New Zealand's fate was left in his hands..
However, he came on for the injured Aaron Cruden
in the first half of the World Cup Final (making his World Cup debut) and kicked what turned out to be the winning penalty goal.
In honour of his contribution to winning the World Cup, his local rugby club in Waiuku
has renamed their home ground to Beaver Park.
Donald made his début for Bath Rugby
in the 68th minute of their Heineken Cup clash with Glasgow on 13th November 2011, scoring what looked to be the winning penalty with 90 seconds to go.
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...
player who plays at First five-eighth or Second five-eighth. Despite an international career that had not lived up to expectations, Donald, aka 'The Beaver', kicked the winning penalty in the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 for New Zealand. He played for the Chiefs
Chiefs (Super rugby franchise)
The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...
in the Super Rugby competition and has played for Waikato
Waikato Rugby Union
The Waikato Rugby Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the Waikato area in the North Island of New Zealand. Its senior representative team competes in the ITM Cup , and won the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup in 2006.Waikato Rugby Union was founded in 1921...
in the ITM Cup. He 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....
from 2008 till 2011.
Donald signed for English Premiership club Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
for a two and a half year deal. Donald was initially, on 18 July 2011, denied a work permit, however, Bath appealed the decision against the UK Government and, with the support of the RFU, won their appeal against the refusal of a visa and Donald will now join Bath in the autumn.
The Blues also denied reports saying Donald had signed with them for the 2012 Super Rugby season
2012 Super Rugby season
The 2012 Super Rugby season is the second season of the new 15-team format for the Super Rugby competition, which involves teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Including its past incarnations as Super 12 and Super 14, this is the 17th season for the Southern Hemisphere's premier...
as a replacement for Stephen Brett
Stephen Brett
Stephen Brett is a rugby union player who plays for the Blues in the Super 14 and Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup.-Career:...
and Luke McAlister
Luke McAlister
Charles Luke McAlister is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays first five-eighths and second five-eighths ....
who are both heading overseas.
Donald had been criticized throughout his All Blacks' career, in particular for their last minute loss to Australia in the 4th game of the 2010 Bledisloe Cup
Bledisloe Cup
Rugby Union's Bledisloe Cup is contested by the Australia national rugby union team and New Zealand national rugby union team. It is named after Lord Bledisloe, the former Governor-General of New Zealand who donated the trophy in 1931. The trophy was designed in New Zealand by Nelson Isaac, and...
in Hong Kong. He missed a penalty that would have put the game out of reach. Then in the last minute of the game he failed to find touch with a clearing kick. The Australians gathered the ball and launched a counter attack from which James O’Connor
James O'Connor (rugby)
James O'Connor is an Australian international rugby union footballer. He made his Wallabies debut in 2008. In the Super Rugby competition he played from 2008 to 2011 with Western Force, and subsequently signed to the Melbourne Rebels for the 2012 season.-Biography:O'Connor is a versatile...
scored a try. O’Connor kicked the winning conversion, and the blame for the loss fell on Donald. A cartoon by Tom Scott
Tom Scott (cartoonist)
Tom Scott is a New Zealand cartoonist, and is regarded by some as one of the best New Zealand cartoonists since the 1970s.Scott has been the regular cartoonist, initially for the New Zealand Listener magazine and then for the Evening Post newspaper and its successor the Dominion Post, for most of...
in the lead-up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final
2011 Rugby World Cup Final
The 2011 Rugby World Cup Final was a rugby union match between France and New Zealand, the final match of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. It was played on Sunday, 23 October 2011 at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, and was won 8–7 by New Zealand, who thus won the World Cup.The New Zealand All Blacks...
described it as a "nightmare" if New Zealand's fate was left in his hands..
However, he came on for the injured Aaron Cruden
Aaron Cruden
Aaron Cruden is a World Cup winning New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays for Manawatu Turbos in the National Provincial Championship, Chiefs in the Super 15 Competition and is an All Blacks international. Cruden's position is first five-eighth/fly-half...
in the first half of the World Cup Final (making his World Cup debut) and kicked what turned out to be the winning penalty goal.
In honour of his contribution to winning the World Cup, his local rugby club in Waiuku
Waiuku
Waiuku is a country town in the Franklin District, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the Waiuku River, which is an estuarial arm of the Manukau Harbour...
has renamed their home ground to Beaver Park.
Donald made his début for Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
in the 68th minute of their Heineken Cup clash with Glasgow on 13th November 2011, scoring what looked to be the winning penalty with 90 seconds to go.
External links
- Stephen Donald Chiefs' profile