Sandy MacDonald (rugby union)
| Full name | James Alexander MacDonald | ||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 20 December 1853 Newtownards, County Down, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||
| Died | 23 April 1928 (aged 74) Taunton, Somerset, England | ||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
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James Alexander MacDonald (20 December 1853 — 23 April 1928) was an Irish international rugby union player.
Born in Newtownards, County Down, MacDonald was a pioneer of Irish rugby football and gained 13 caps as a front row forward for Ireland, including their first international against England in 1875. He captained the team his last year in 1884 and retired as Ireland's caps-record holder, later surpassed by Charles Rooke.
MacDonald also played association football for Cliftonville FC.
A physician, MacDonald attained medical degrees from Queen's College, Belfast, and the Royal University of Ireland. He had a medical practice in Taunton, Somerset, and served as chairman of the Council of the British Medical Association.