Hoani MacDonald (born 21 August 1978) is a former New Zealand rugby union player and current coach. He played provincial rugby for Southland, and for the Highlanders in Super Rugby.
| Birth name | Hoani MacDonald | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 21 August 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Invercargill, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 111 kg (245 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Jamie Joseph (cousin) Jack Macdonald (great-uncle) Dan Udy (great-great-uncle) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In September 2008, he joined Welsh side the Newport Gwent Dragons in the Celtic League.[1]
MacDonald signed with the Melbourne Rebels for the 2011 Super Rugby season.[2]
On 20 October 2012, MacDonald suffered a cardiac arrest in a match for Southland against Counties Manukau in an ITM Cup semi final. He had CPR performed on the pitch, before being transferred to hospital and placed in an induced coma.[3] MacDonald was in hospital for one week and doctors fitted him with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.[4] As a result, he retired from playing rugby.[5]
In 2015, it was announced MacDonald had become the Southland coach for at least the next two seasons. He has been part of the coaching staff since his retirement.[4][6]
References edit
- ^ "Dragons sign Highlander MacDonald". UK: BBC Sport. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ^ Smith, Wayne (23 April 2010). "Melbourne Rebels add Greg Somerville, Hoani McDonald to ranks". The Australian. News. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ "Stags' Hoani MacDonald in induced coma". Stuff.co.nz. News. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Macdonald to take Stags reins". Stuff. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ Tahana, Yvonne (19 February 2013). "Survivor puts his heart into charity". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ "Macdonald honoured to get job". Stuff. Retrieved 25 March 2016.