Macdonald takes the High(landers) road
Mon, 21 Jan 2008 06:34
Hooker Jason Macdonald has re-signed with the Otago Rugby Football Union (ORFU) until the end of the 2009 season. His decision to stay on with Otago and the Highlanders comes after a number of setbacks - which included an injury to captain Craig Newby - and the loss of seasoned players like All Black hooker Anton Oliver (French outfit Toulon), star prop Carl Hayman (Newcastle in England) and Nick Evans (Blues in New Zealand). Macdonald, 27, debuted for Otago in 2002 against Marlborough. He has since played 32 games for the province. He did not take the field in the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup, because of an Achilles tendon injury he suffered in pre-season training. He has since recovered and is in the Highlanders squad for this year. Otago chief executive Richard Reid said: "It is great to have a player of Jason's calibre re-sign with Otago for a further two years. It bodes very well for the future." Otago head coach Steve Martin said he was delighted Macdonald has decided to stay with Otago. "He's a local born and bred, he's a valuable man on and off the field and there's no doubt he would have captained Otago last year but for his injury."
