MacDonald, Christie selected for Maori All Blacks
Quentin MacDonald didn't even know the New Zealand Maori team was going to be announced on Tuesday, so the fact he was named to make a return to the side caught him off guard.
MacDonald, who plays hooker, will be joined in the 27-man squad by his Tasman Makos captain Shane Christie.
The Maori team will play Fiji in Suva on July 11, followed by a New Zealand Barbarians selection in Auckland on July 18. Taranaki and Chiefs midfielder Charlie Ngatai returns as captain following a successful trip to Japan last year.
Four Makos made the 2014 team - Christie, Joe Wheeler, Liam Squire and James Lowe. Lowe was listed as not considered for selection due to injury; he is expected to undergo shoulder surgery. Wheeler suffered a medial ligament injury midway through the Highlanders Super XV season and only made a return to their team on Saturday, while Squire has struggled for game time with the Chiefs.
Former Mako Ben May, who has been playing sparingly for the Hurricanes, was also selected, one of four props.
MacDonald first represented the New Zealand Maori in 2012, and although he was not initially selected in 2013 he was pulled in as an injury replacement. Last season he missed out on selection.
The 26 year-old Marlburian, who lives in Renwick, learned of his call-up in modern fashion, through a friend on social media.
"I didn't even realise they were naming it today and I hadn't heard much so I wasn't too worried until one of the boys posted it up [on Facebook]," MacDonald said on Tuesday afternoon, half an hour after learning of his recall.
"I can't wait for it. Especially getting to play Fiji and the New Zealand Barbarians team will be pretty challenging.
"I am looking forward to getting to camp. I know a lot of the boys and they are a good bunch of lads and I will learn a bit more about Maori culture which is good."
MacDonald turned out for the Central division one team on Saturday, scoring a try, having recently returned from a Chiefs Super XV campaign. His visit home will not last long and he expects to be off again at the end of the week to train with his NZ Maori teammates before flying to Fiji next Wednesday.
The Barbarians match at Eden Park in Auckland will mark the first time the New Zealand Maori have played in their homeland since 2010 and is a match MacDonald, a former Blues player, is looking forward to.
"I have a few mates up there and I think the family might come up. It will be good.
"I have only just found out but we will definitely have to try and get them up for that game. It should be a good festive atmosphere, especially being against the Barbarians."
There are nine new caps in the squad, including brothers Rieko and Akira Ioane. Three of the recently crowned world champion New Zealand Under 20s have made the squad, Otere Black, Sean Wainui and Akira Ioane.
Colin Cooper will coach the team that includes 13 players returning to the setup from last season.
New Zealand Maori squad 2015 (*denotes new cap)
Forwards: Hookers: Joe Royal, Ash Dixon, Quentin MacDonald*; props: Chris Eves, Brendon Edmonds, Josh Hohneck*, Ben May; locks: Hayden Triggs, Jacob Skeen*; Blade Thomson; loose forwards: Shane Christie, Elliot Dixon, Akira Ioane*, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Mitchell Crosswell;
Backs: Halfbacks: Jamison Gibson-Park, Brad Weber*, first-fives: Damian McKenzie*, Otere Black*; midfield backs: Jason Emery, Charlie Ngatai (c), Sean Wainui*; outside backs: Kurt Baker, Rieko Ioane*, Marty McKenzie, Matt Proctor, Codey Rei*.
