Donald William Macdonald (died 12 June 1994) was an Australian rugby league referee and administrator.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||
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Full name | Donald William Macdonald | ||||||||||||||
Born | Tempe, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||
Died | 12 June 1994 Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||
Refereeing information | |||||||||||||||
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Source: rugbyleagueproject.org |
Macdonald began his refereeing career in the Newtown District Junior Rugby League. He was subsequently graded to referee in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) in 1963,[1] gaining his first first-grade match in 1967. He went on to control over 150 top grade matches in a career that lasted until 1979.[2]
Macdonald was a no-nonsense referee who was not averse to sending off players for violent play or dissent, including Craig Young,[3] Johnny Greaves and Ron Raper,[4] Steve Kneen,[5] Kevin Ryan,[6] Paul Sait,[7] Graham Olling[8] and Bill Ashurst.[9]
Macdonald was also involved in some volatile situations after matches, being pelted with fruit[10] and cans[11] by irate spectators, and doused with beer.[4]
After he retired from refereeing, Macdonald was elected as President of the NSWRL Referees Association from 1980 to 1984.[12] He also served on the Referees Examination Board for a number of years.
Macdonald was awarded Life Membership of the NSWRL Referees Association in 1976.[13]
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