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Nick Macleod

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Welsh rugby union footballer

Rugby player
Nick Macleod
Birth nameNick Macleod
Date of birth (1983-03-23) 23 March 1983 (age 41)
Place of birthCardiff, Wales
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight87 kg (13 st 10 lb)
SchoolBishop of Llandaff
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half, Full-back
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2001–2007 Cardiff RFC 26 (176)
2003–2008 Cardiff Blues 82 (240)
2008–2016 Sale Sharks 153 (705)
2016–2017 Dragons 6 (32)
Correct as of 29 October 2016
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2002 Wales U19
2004 Wales U21

Nick Macleod (born 23 March 1983 in Cardiff, Wales) is a former professional rugby union player who played for Cardiff Blues, Sale Sharks and Newport Gwent Dragons. Primarily a fly-half, Macleod also played at Fullback.

Professional career

Macleod came through the Cardiff Blues system, playing for the U21 side, and made his debut for Cardiff RFC in November 2001 against Cambridge University. Macleod played for Wales U19 in 2002, and Wales U21 in 2004. Macleod made his debut for Cardiff Blues on 5 September 2003, against Glasgow, scoring a try.

Macleod was selected for Wales for the 2006 Wales rugby union tour of Argentina, in place of the injured Hal Luscombe. Macleod did not gain a cap during the tour, and ultimately never achieved a Wales cap.

In April 2008, it was announced that Macleod would leave Cardiff to sign for the Sale Sharks on a two-year deal. Macleod departed Cardiff with 82 appearances and scored 240 points.

Macleod began the 2010–11 season as Sale's fly-half in the absence of the team's first choice, Charlie Hodgson; when Hodgson returned in late September he took over the position. In a Challenge Cup match for Sale against Cetransa El Salvador on 8 October 2010, Macleod equalled the club's record for most points scored in a game by a single player. When fly-half Charlie Hodgson, who previously held the record, was rested at half-time Macleod took over goal kicking. With two tries and eight successful conversions, Macleod scored 26 points in the match. The following month, Macleod experienced what he described a "highlight of career so far" when he stepped up to captain Sale in a 24–19 defeat to Exeter. Regular captain Neil Briggs was unavailable due to injury and Macleod filled the position. Hodgson suffered a broken foot in December, ruling him out for several months. In his absence, Macleod took the role of Sale's regular fly-half. Macleod's elevation to the captaincy was temporary and winger Mark Cueto was appointed captain in late December 2010 by new coach Pete Anglesea, who replaced Mike Brewer as Sale had won just three out of nine matches in the 2010–11 season.

Hodgson left at the end of the 2010–11 season and the club chose not to sign a new fly-half. This meant that Macleod would be given a regular chance in the position. He had a successful run, scoring 231 points by mid-February when he signed a two-year extension on his contract. Macleod signed a further extension in November 2013.

MacLeod joined Newport Gwent Dragons for the 2016–17 season and made six appearances before suffering a ligament injury which eventually forced him to retire from professional rugby; he now works as a baker in Cardiff.

References

  1. "Aviva Premiership Rugby – Sale Sharks". web page. Premier Rugby. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Nick Macleod". Cardiff Rugby. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  3. "Wales U19 9 New Zealand Schools 17 - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 16 January 2002. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  4. "Wales U21 39-6 Scotland U21". BBC Sport. 13 February 2004. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  5. "Glasgow give Cardiff blues". BBC Sport. 5 September 2003. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  6. "Macleod Joins Wales Squad in Argentina". Cardiff Rugby. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  7. Thomas, Simon (10 April 2008). "Blues star Macleod on way to Sale". WalesOnline. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  8. Hodgson's timely return boosts Sale, scrum.com, 27 September 2010, retrieved 7 December 2010
  9. Sale 97–11 Cetransa El Salvador, BBC Sport, 8 October 2010, retrieved 25 October 2010
  10. Leigh, Neil (30 November 2010), Top tip for Sale Sharks, Manchester Evening News, retrieved 30 November 2010
  11. Spink, Alex (7 December 2010), "Charlie Hodgson's unlucky break opens door for Jonny", Daily Mirror, retrieved 11 December 2010
  12. Winger Mark Cueto given Sale Sharks captaincy, BBC Sport, 29 December 2010, retrieved 31 December 2010
  13. Sale Sharks sack head coach Mike Brewer, BBC Sport, 23 December 2010, retrieved 23 December 2010
  14. Nick Macleod enjoying fly-half responsibility at Sale, BBC Sport, 22 September 2011, retrieved 20 April 2012
  15. Sale's Dwayne Peel, Marc Jones & Nick Macleod sign new deals, BBC Sport, 8 February 2012, retrieved 20 April 2012
  16. "Aviva Premiership: Nick Macleod and Ross Harrison sign new deals with Sale Sharks". Sky Sports. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  17. How a former Welsh rugby star became a celebrated baker following an injury, WalesOnline, 9 March 2018, retrieved 7 December 2020

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