Rugby United New York & Alex MacDonald

Rugby United New York signed 2-time Collegiate All-American lock Alex MacDonald for the 2019 Major League Rugby season. The 25-year-old Hilton Head, South Carolina native, is 6’4″ and 230 pounds.

Alex attended Hilton Head High School and played football for one year at tight end and linebacker. He also was on the track team where he threw the discus. In 2012 he was honored as the Theodore Whitaker male athlete of the year.

Following his graduation from Hilton Head in 2012, he attended The Citadel, graduating in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. His first season with the club was a learning experience for the team and by his Senior year, the team became the Southern Rugby Conference Champions and advanced to the USA Rugby National Collegiate 7s Division II Championship in Cary, NC.

Alex played rugby for four years at The Citadel and was the president and captain of the team. He was selected to the Southern Rugby Conference All-Conference team in both 2014 and in 2015. In 2015 he also was selected to the South Rugby Conference Sevens All-Conference team.

The Citadel is known for building leaders. Alex was an outstanding student while in college. He was on the Dean’s List 7 times, earned Gold Star status 3 times for having a GPA of 3.7 or higher, and was on both the Commandant’s and the President’s list which combined both leadership and academic excellence.

After graduating from the Citadel, he enrolled at Life University in 2016 and graduated the following year with a Master’s Degree in Positive Psychology. He played rugby for Life and helped the team reach the D1A Championship losing narrowly to Saint Mary’s, and was recognized twice as a Collegiate All-American. Alex also coached the Atlanta Youth Rugby Under-19s while at Life.

Alex then moved to Dublin, Ireland and has played on the first team at Trinity College since 2017 in the All-IIreland League. The Trinity team has a tremendous group of coaches in Tony Smeeth, Gareth Pickering, and Hugh Maguire. Alex is also a House Master and Rugby Coach at Blackrock College.

Alex has progressively been exposed to higher level rugby competition and now joins Rugby United New York as a professional player. He is used to that environment from playing in Ireland and the irish connection with RUNY keeps getting stronger.

Rugby United New York Comments

“I loved the immediate immersion and acceptance of Major League Rugby into our American culture of ‘sport mania’,” MacDonald said. “I simply knew I wanted to be involved. A lot of big names have come together for RUNY, it’s hard not to have high expectations for this season.”

“Alex is a great addition to our squad,” Head Coach Mike Tolkin told us. “He brings a great work ethic and has been part of winning tradition and cultures with each of his clubs. He really excelled his growth as a player during his recent stint at Trinity in Dublin.”

Tommy Duffy, The Citadel Rugby Coach, Comments

Alex was one of the most unique players I’ve coached. He was a natural leader…(and that’s saying a lot from a school that develops leaders) from moment I met him on the campus at the Citadel. I’m not at all schocked he is where he is today. He never saw obsticles, just opportunities and he trived and excelled in competition. He has a rare quality of not only believing in himself, but his genuine belief in others. And lifting those players around him to what he saw in them. He became a great student of the game. Alex was always pushing himself to get better. He believed that he would always leave the pitch better than when he walked on, whether practice or a game. I got to spend a lot of time with him over the years at the Citadel. From driving to USA development camps to conference matches, we always had our Irish tunes playing. All I can say is that Alex set the high standard to what I push all of my players to be still to this day. He is a warrior poet…. and it was a great honor in my life to coach a man like Alex.