Should Michael McDonald make his Super Rugby debut on Friday night in Wollongong on Friday night, he will join an exclusive club on the other side of the world.
McDonald grew up in the small Irish town of Carlingford, an area with a population of just over 1000, with his parents, twin Andrew and two older brothers Gearoid and Cilian.
It was in the tiny farming town near the northern Ireland border where McDonald’s love of rugby was born.
“My older brothers, they are 27 and me and my twin are 20 so there was always a bit of back garden rugby and trampoline rugby going on,” he said.
“I come from a massive rugby family - on my mum's side all her brothers play and my dad played so it was always rugby and Gaelic football growing up.”
While much of his hometown was obsessed with Gaelic football, McDonald idolised two local rugby stars Rob and Dave Kearney.
That pair went on to become Irish internationals, with Rob playing in the 2019 Rugby World Cup among his 95 Test caps, and McDonald is set to join them in the professional rugby ranks.
“I remember growing up when they used to come back to our Gaelic club and there'd be massive crowds of my whole community there to get autographs and photos,” he said.
“It’s a really small country town, not a whole lot of rugby there, it’s mostly gaelic football so to be playing rugby from there is pretty special to me and obviously pretty special to all the people in Carlingford as well.”
The McDonalds moved to Perth when Michael was 13 and have since become Australian citizens but the scrumhalf’s thick Irish accent reflects the connection he still has to his childhood home.
Even across the globe, as well, McDonald’s father Andy has stayed in touch with the Kearneys, both families keeping a close eye on the other.
McDonald rode up the rugby ranks in WA, ultimately featuring for the Western Force in their Rapid Rugby campaign in 2019 as a teenager.
McDonald was the starting halfback for the Junior Wallabies in last year’s World Rugby U20s campaign and Rob Kearney sent the youngster some well wishes before the competition kick-off.
“They grew up and are from the same area and Rob and Dave are a bit older than me but always knew each other and always said hello and yeah,” he said.
“They (our fathers) still keep in touch and just talking about myself and those two boys playing with Leinster and Dad's always keeping in touch and Dave Kearney their dad just seeing how I'm going and all that sort of stuff.
“Rob texted me before the world cup just wishing me all the best and to just enjoy every moment of it and just get amongst it.”
That advice is something he has embraced as he made another big move, from Perth to Sydney to join the Waratahs.
“You've got to just go into it with open arms and work really hard and just try your best and hopefully things will happen but absolutely love the environment at the Waratahs,” he said.
“It's a real family environment, really welcoming, especially moving from Perth made the transition so much easier and I'm just loving it.”
His parents won’t be able to make the trip over for his debut but McDonald says they and his brothers, who are spread across Perth, Melbourne and New York, will all be tuning in.
“I was straight on the phone to my family, can't wait to get out there and rip in with the lads,” he said.
“Unfortunately my parents can't come over but I'll have my girlfriend and stuff here which is good and a bit of support, but they'll all be watching on the TV at home.
“Growing up playing rugby you always dream of making your Super Rugby debut especially in Australia and to do it on home soil with the Waratahs is even better.
“Especially coming from a small country town in Ireland, you never dream of these things happening but I'm just looking forward to it.”
The Waratahs take on the Chiefs on Friday March 6 at WIN Stadium Wollongong, kicking off at 7:15pm AEDT, LIVE on Foxtel, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. The Brumbies take on the Sunwovles at the same ground earlier in the day, kicking off at 2:45pm AEDT, LIVE on Foxtel, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.
