Family first as MacDonald heads back home
Leon MacDonald clearly likes the look of plan B.
The Tasman Makos head coach has decided to leave the Crusaders after just one year of a two-year deal as an assistant backs coach and return to Blenheim with his wife Hayley and four children.
The bonus for Tasman rugby supporters is that he’s now resigned with the Tasman union until the end of 2019.
But an easy decision? Well, yes and no. ‘‘It was an easy decision, just with our family and the ages they’re at. It’s a very good plan B if that’s what you want to call it,’’ MacDonald said.
Despite playing a key part in helping the Christchurch-based Crusaders to this year’s Super Rugby title, time away from family was always tough.
‘‘Even being away with Tasman has its effect and I think the decision that both Hayley and I agree on is we want our kids to be settled and we’re definitely not in a hurry. It was obviously tough to leave the Crusaders, especially after the year we had, but I’ve got plenty of years ahead of me.
‘‘The Crusaders are fantastic ... but that’s probably one of the best organisations in the world in terms of professionalism and the way they’re run so to be a part of that as well was a fantastic experience.’’
MacDonald had previously changed his mind about being part of former coach Todd Blackadder’s 2015 setup. According to MacDonald, back then the timing simply wasn’t right. Now, the needs of his family were always at the front of his decision-making process, although he said it still took him about three months’ deliberation before finally making the call.
MacDonald said t his Crusaders contract included an out-clause option at end of the first year.
‘‘I made it really clear when I signed that this could be the case, so it wasn’t a surprise to the Crusaders.’’
Coaching the Tasman Makos clearly still ticks a lot of the boxes in term’s of MacDonald’s own professional development.
‘‘I’m getting what I need in terms of my coaching development here, I love what we do here with Tasman and I suppose with our [four] kids and the ages that they’re at [11 to 17] it’s a simple answer.’’
Tasman have made two Premiership finals over the past three seasons without clinching the big prize, so there’s still plenty for MacDonald to achieve at provincial level.
‘‘There’s definitely growth in this group. We’ve lost a lot of leaders in the last two years, you know five or six last year and five or six this year so we’re rebuilding that leadership group that’s been so strongly led over the last few years by Shane [Christie].’’
‘‘So there’s a new captain and a whole new group trying to stamp their mark on the team and that’s a challenge in itself. But we’ve come close and haven’t done the job and there’s definitely a feeling of wanting to create a bit of history as well.
‘‘It’s a rewarding job here in Tasman because we’ve got a small union, we don’t have a big player base and we don’t have the biggest budget but we’ve got a group of guys who are really keen to do well, so that’s motivating in itself to be part of that group.
‘‘I’m excited about where the team’s heading and the work that [Tasman chief executive] Tony Lewis and the board are doing behind the scenes and the vision they’ve got for the group, so it makes you want to be a part of that, definitely.’’