Leon MacDonald is a versatile and cool-headed backline veteran who has electric pace and timing that can still rip the best defences in the game. Since returning from club rugby in Japan with Yamaha in 2004, MacDonald has become a regular for the All Blacks, Canterbury and the Crusaders. Known as Rangi by his teammates, he is also an able goal-kicking backup to Dan Carter. Although he has played most of his representative career at fullback, MacDonald stepped into the centre position at the 2003 Rugby World Cup when Tana Umaga was injured. At one point he connected on 16 consecutive kicks at goal, all conversions, and only five players have more Rugby World Cup conversions than MacDonald’s total of 20. Making his debut for the Crusaders at the tender age of 19, MacDonald was plucked from Marlborough by current All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith. He soon showed his class and had many older players wondering who this young talent was. New Zealand Representative Teams New Zealand Schools in 1995 New Zealand Under 19 in 1996 New Zealand Under 21 in 1997 New Zealand Maori in 1998, 1999, 2005 New Zealand Rugby Academy in 1999 All Blacks in 2000–2003, 2005-2008 Career Notes • Scored seven tries for the champion Crusaders in the 2006 Rebel Sport Super 14, good for second on the team. • Brought up 200 first-class matches in 2006, in the Super 14 match against the Sharks in Timaru. • Scored five tries in five Tests in 2002, and another four at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Player Media:

Leon MacDonald is a versatile and cool-headed backline veteran who has electric pace and timing that can still rip the best defences in the game.

Since returning from club rugby in Japan with Yamaha in 2004, MacDonald has become a regular for the All Blacks, Canterbury and the Crusaders.

Known as Rangi by his teammates, he is also an able goal-kicking backup to Dan Carter.

Although he has played most of his representative career at fullback, MacDonald stepped into the centre position at the 2003 Rugby World Cup when Tana Umaga was injured.

At one point he connected on 16 consecutive kicks at goal, all conversions, and only five players have more Rugby World Cup conversions than MacDonald’s total of 20.

Making his debut for the Crusaders at the tender age of 19, MacDonald was plucked from Marlborough by current All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith. He soon showed his class and had many older players wondering who this young talent was.

New Zealand Representative Teams
New Zealand Schools in 1995
New Zealand Under 19 in 1996
New Zealand Under 21 in 1997
New Zealand Maori in 1998, 1999, 2005
New Zealand Rugby Academy in 1999
All Blacks in 2000–2003, 2005-2008

Career Notes
• Scored seven tries for the champion Crusaders in the 2006 Rebel Sport Super 14, good for second on the team.
• Brought up 200 first-class matches in 2006, in the Super 14 match against the Sharks in Timaru.
• Scored five tries in five Tests in 2002, and another four at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Career Comments:

Test match Record by Year
(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

2000
24 Jun v Scotland at Dunedin 69-20 (+)
1 Jul v Scotland at Auckland 48-14 (+)
22 Jul v South Africa at Christchurch 25-12 (+)
19 Aug v South Africa at Johannesburg 40-46 (+)

2001
16 Jun v Samoa at Albany 50-6
23 Jun v Argentina at Christchurch 67-19 (-)
30 Jun v France at Wellington 37-12 (-)
21 Jul v South Africa at Cape Town 12-3 (+)
11 Aug v Australia at Dunedin 15-23 (+)
25 Aug v South Africa at Auckland 26-15
1 Sep v Australia at Sydney 26-29
17 Nov v Ireland at Dublin 40-29
24 Nov v Scotland at Edinburgh 37-6 (-)

2002
15 Jun v Ireland at Dunedin 15-6
22 Jun v Ireland at Auckland 40-8
29 Jun v Fiji at Wellington 68-18 (+)(-)
3 Aug v Australia at Sydney 14-16 (+)
10 Aug v South Africa at Durban 30-23 (-)

2003
16 Aug v Australia at Auckland 21-17 (+)
11 Oct v Italy at Melbourne 70-7 (+)
17 Oct v Canada at Melbourne 68-6 (-)
24 Oct v Tonga at Brisbane 91-7
2 Nov v Wales at Sydney 53-37
8 Nov v South Africa at Melbourne 29-9
15 Nov v Australia at Sydney 10-22
20 Nov v France at Sydney 40-13 (-)

2005
Jun 25 v British & Irish Lions at Christchurch 21-3 (-)
Jul 2 v British & Irish Lions at Wellington 48-18 (+)
Aug 7 v South Africa at Cape Town 16-22 (-)
Aug 27 v South Africa at Dunedin 31-27 (-)
Sep 3 v Australia at Auckland 34-24 (-)
Nov 5 v Wales at Cardiff 41-3 (+)
Nov 12 v Ireland at Dublin 45-7
Nov 19 v England at London 23-19 (+)
Nov 26 v Scotland at Edinburgh 29-10 (+)

2006
24 Jun vs Argentina at Buenos Aires 25-19
Jul 8 v Australia at Christchurch 32-12 (-)
Jul 22 v South Africa at Wellington 35-17
Jul 29 v Australia at Brisbane 13-9
Aug 19 v Australia at Auckland 34-27 (+)
Aug 26 v South Africa at Pretoria 45-26 (-)
Nov 12 v France at Lyon 47-3 (-)
Nov 19 v France at Paris 23-11

2007
2 Jun v France at Auckland 42-11
9 Jun v France at Wellington 61-10 (-)
16 Jun v Canada at Hamilton 64-13 (+)
23 June v South Africa at Durban 26-21 (+)
8 Sept v Italy (RWC) at Marseille 76-14
15 Sept v Portugal (RWC) at Lyon 108-13 (+)
23 Sep v Scotland (RWC) at Edinburgh 40-0 (-)
7 Sept v France (RWC) at Cardiff 18-20

2008
7 June v Ireland at Wellington 21-11 (+)
14 June v England at Auckland 37-20 (+)
21 June v England at Christchurch 44-12
5 July v South Africa at Wellington 19-8 (+)
12 July v South Africa at Dunedin 28-30 (+)

Stats - Below figures correct as at 1 July 2008

Provincial Caps 70
Provincial Points 110 (18t, 8c, 1p, 1dg)
Provincial Debut 1994 v Buller (Marlborough)
Super Rugby Caps 116
Super Rugby Points 301 (41t, 21c, 18p)
Super Rugby Debut 1997 v Hurricanes