It's not clear what the Force will get out of signing Leon MacDonald

I’m delighted Leon MacDonald has got himself a job. I’m just not sure what’s in it for the Western Force, at this stage. 

MacDonald, who departed the All Blacks’ set up in slightly bizarre circumstances last year, is going to the Force as a coaching consultant, where he’ll work across their men’s, women’s and academy programmes. 

To me, that’s a job for a Joe Schmidt. A job for a seasoned campaigner, who’s enjoyed success, has proven methods and has coached at every level of the game. 

Schmidt cut his teeth on schoolboy rugby, before plugging away on the New Zealand provincial circuit and eventually winning acclaim as a test coach for Ireland. 

Jobs, such as this one in Perth, aren’t for people still serving an apprenticeship. They go to coaches who are the finished article and who want a quieter life without the stresses of touring and week-to-week competition. 

MacDonald is not at that point in his career. Or at least he shouldn’t be. 

As I say, I’m pleased he’s found a place to work, because that’s not easy when you detonate the path your career is on. 

MacDonald was in the right place at the right time, with the All Blacks. He’d done provincial rugby, he’d been an assistant, he’d shown he could be the head coach of an elite franchise team. 

By hitching his wagon to Scott Robertson and the All Blacks, he’d effectively mapped out the next 10 or 15 years of his career. 

Be a good assistant in a successful All Blacks’ set up. Ascend to the top job in time, do well there and then pick and choose when, where or if you want to work again. 

At that stage of his life this type of consultancy role would be absolutely ideal. 

That’s not how things have panned out for MacDonald and it appears as if now he’s had to go where the work is. 

I see this gig at the Force is just for 2025, which certainly limits any impact MacDonald might have. You need years to make tangible change in a role as broad as he’s been given. 

Unless, of course, you’re going to be ensconced as head coach, following a year of dipping your toe in the water. 

Force head coach Simon Cron, who comes from a similar Canterbury coaching tree as MacDonald, is contracted until the end of the 2026 season and appears to be both liked and respected in Perth. 

Maybe finding a job for MacDonald is a case of doing a favour for an old mate. Or perhaps MacDonald already has something teed up for 2026. 

You just look at the announcement from this distance and wonder what MacDonald can offer the franchise if he’s not the man in charge of the Super Rugby Pacific side. 

We’ll see how things pan out and, at the risk of becoming boring, it is good to see MacDonald back in the game. 

The intrigue now is what job he might secure for 2026 and beyond.