Jason Macdonald
Encyclopedia
Jason Macdonald is a rugby union
player who plays at hooker for Otago
in the ITM Cup. He has previously played in the Super 14
competition for the Highlanders and Crusaders, but his career is currently on hold following a ruptured Achilles tendon
.
squad, having made his debut for the province in 2002. He missed the entire 2010 ITM Cup
after being injured during the 2010 Super 14 campaign.
Super 14 season, during which he made his first start for the club and scored his first Super Rugby try. Over the following two seasons, he progressed into a more regular member of the squad, and was the club's regular hooker for the 2008
campaign, starting 10 of 13 matches.
Prior to the 2009
Super 14 season, Macdonald was surprisingly left available in the draft and claimed by the Crusaders. He went on to enjoy his most successful season of Super Rugby, starting 12 matches in place of injured All-Black Corey Flynn
, including the team's semi-final appearance against the Bulls.
For 2010
, Macdonald found himself back with the Highlanders, appearing mainly off the bench as the starting job at hooker was claimed by Jason Rutledge
. His season was ultimately ended mid-stream by an Achilles
injury, suffered while playing club rugby during a schedule break, that limited him to just 7 matches.
After missing the entire 2010 ITM Cup
due to his ruptured Achilles tendon, MacDonald was not included in the Highlanders squad for the 2011 Super 15 season
.
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 hooker for Otago
Otago Rugby Football Union
The Otago Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union for the Otago Region of New Zealand. The union is based in the city of Dunedin, and its home ground is Forsyth Barr Stadium. The top representative team competes in the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial...
in the ITM Cup. He has previously played in the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
competition for the Highlanders and Crusaders, but his career is currently on hold following a ruptured Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
.
Provincial Rugby
Macdonald is one of the longest-serving members of the current OtagoOtago Rugby Football Union
The Otago Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union for the Otago Region of New Zealand. The union is based in the city of Dunedin, and its home ground is Forsyth Barr Stadium. The top representative team competes in the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial...
squad, having made his debut for the province in 2002. He missed the entire 2010 ITM Cup
2010 ITM Cup
The 2010 ITM Cup was the 34th provincial rugby union competition, the fifth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the first under the new sponsor of ITM , involving the top 14 provincial unions of New Zealand...
after being injured during the 2010 Super 14 campaign.
Super Rugby
Macdonald was included in the Highlanders squad for the 20062006 Super 14 season
The 2006 Super 14 season started on Friday 10 February 2006. The Grand Final was held on Saturday 27 May 2006. Super 14 is a provincial rugby union competition with 14 teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. This season was the first of the expansion, which saw two new teams, the...
Super 14 season, during which he made his first start for the club and scored his first Super Rugby try. Over the following two seasons, he progressed into a more regular member of the squad, and was the club's regular hooker for the 2008
2008 Super 14 season
The 2008 Super 14 season started in February 2008 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 31 May, when the Crusaders won their seventh Super Rugby title with a 20–12 victory over the Waratahs in front of the Crusaders' home fans. The 2008 season was the third of the expansion,...
campaign, starting 10 of 13 matches.
Prior to the 2009
2009 Super 14 season
The 2009 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2009 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 30 May, when the Bulls won their second Super Rugby title with a decisive 61–17 victory over the Waikato Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. The 2009 season...
Super 14 season, Macdonald was surprisingly left available in the draft and claimed by the Crusaders. He went on to enjoy his most successful season of Super Rugby, starting 12 matches in place of injured All-Black Corey Flynn
Corey Flynn
Corey Flynn is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays in the position of hooker. He was educated at Southland Boys' High School.-Provincial:He played provincial for Southland until he moved to Canterbury in 2003....
, including the team's semi-final appearance against the Bulls.
For 2010
2010 Super 14 season
The 2010 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2010 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 29 May. The 2010 season was the fifth and last season of the expanded Super 14 format. The schedule, which covers 3½ months, featured a total of 94 matches, with each team playing one...
, Macdonald found himself back with the Highlanders, appearing mainly off the bench as the starting job at hooker was claimed by Jason Rutledge
Jason Rutledge
Jason Rutledge is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays provincial rugby for Southland, and is in the Super 14 team the Highlanders....
. His season was ultimately ended mid-stream by an Achilles
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
injury, suffered while playing club rugby during a schedule break, that limited him to just 7 matches.
After missing the entire 2010 ITM Cup
2010 ITM Cup
The 2010 ITM Cup was the 34th provincial rugby union competition, the fifth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the first under the new sponsor of ITM , involving the top 14 provincial unions of New Zealand...
due to his ruptured Achilles tendon, MacDonald was not included in the Highlanders squad for the 2011 Super 15 season
2011 Super 15 season
The 2011 Super Rugby season was the first season of the new 15-team format for the Super Rugby competition, which involved teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Including its past iterations as Super 12 and Super 14, this was the 16th season for the Southern Hemisphere's premier...
.