Former All Black Leon MacDonald will hang up his boots after landing one too many blows to the head, he announced on Thursday.
Former All Black announces retirement from rugby
Former All Black Leon MacDonald will hang up his boots after landing one too many blows to the head, he announced on Thursday.
The 32-year-old, a utility back who made his mark at full-back, has not returned to action since sustaining a heavy head knock in a match for his Japanese club Kintetsu in the middle of last year.
"I didn't expect to go as far as I did in the game and I managed to squeeze every little bit of what I had out of my body on and off the field," MacDonald told the
Marlborough Express.
"I wasn't the most talented rugby player to ever play but I definitely always wanted to leave everything out on the field and that's probably one of the things I could say I did."
Debut
MacDonald won 56 caps over eight years for New Zealand, making his international debut against Scotland in 2000.
He suffered a string of injuries over his career due to his fearless commitment in defence and attack, but is still the third most capped All Blacks full-back after Mils Muliaina, who has made 86 outings, and Christian Cullen (58).
His All Black career reached the end of the road when he decided to go for a second spell in Japan last year.
MacDonald has accepted an assistant coaching post with New Zealand provincial club the Tasman Makos.
