Born: July 19, 1900 – Auckland Died: September 25, 1952 – Te Kuiti Test record: 1 Test (1924) – 0 points
Back-row forward Hec McDonald played one Test for New Zealand against the touring Englishmen in 1924.
Formerly playing in the Waikato, Cambridge and Rotorua areas – as well as representing Bay of Plenty against a NSW pack featuring the likes of Frank Burge and Reg ‘Whip’ Latta in 1922 – he joined City Rovers in 1923, helping the club to a third straight Auckland championship.
McDonald debuted for his new province in 1923 and played for Auckland twice against an Australian Universities side in 1924.
He lined up against England for a Provincial XIII during the 1924 tour before getting the call-up for the third Test in Dunedin, replacing Bert Avery at loose forward for the 31-18 loss.
McDonald played for a New Zealand XIII against the famed 1925 Queensland tourists, who won 44-20 in Wellington. He later returned to Waikato and represented South Auckland.