Injury prone Macfadyen calls it a day

Published on Sunday 11 May 2008 22:33

GLASGOW and Scotland forward Donnie Macfadyen will today announce his retirement.

Macfadyen is just 28, but the openside flanker has endured a horrendous run of bad luck with injuries over the past four years and started only 11 games in the past three seasons, including two this year.

A hugely popular figure among the pro ranks, he has also watched and helped guide the next generation of back row talent, particularly John Barclay, through to pro and international level.

A young player of the year and Scotland Under-21 captain, Macfadyen made his Scotland debut against Canada in 2002 and went on to win 11 caps, playing against Australia four times, outshining George Smith and Phil Waugh, and South Africa on three occasions, scoring in his last match against them in 2006.

However, a succession of injuries, the latest being a knee problem and subsequent infection suffered last summer, has caused numerous problems for his body and demoralising set-backs mentally, even for a player with his incredibly positive approach to life. In the past few weeks, he has also had to cope with the loss of his father, the well-respected judge Lord Macfadyen, to cancer.