Sandy Donald - Builder
Sandy Donald is a name synonymous with the game of rugby in Manitoba and particularly throughout the Westman area of the province. Sandy started playing rugby at the tender age of nine at Biggar High School in his homeland of Scotland, and thereafter continued to play when he moved to Canada in 1983 for the Brandon Barbarians RFC where he enjoyed a
15 year long playing career before putting away the mouth guard.
The mouth guard however, was quickly replaced by a whistle as Sandy decided to continue his involvement in the sport as a referee where he would become Westman High School Rugby’s first Referee in Chief in 2003. Sandy remained an experienced referee until 2012 and during this tenure played
a crucial role in recruiting, scheduling,
developing and certifying referees in the Westman area.
Sandy also played an important role in the development of the Crocus Plains Varsity Boys rugby program. Sandy coached the Plainsmen team from 2002-2008 where he developed many young players who would go on to represent Manitoba at National Championships and the Canada Games. Sandy coached the Plainsmen to a Westman High school Rugby Championship and Provincial Championship in 2003. He also coached the Plainsmen to a Westman High School Rugby Final in 2004.
At the High-Performance level, Sandy coached the Rugby Manitoba U18 Men’s team in 2003 with fellow Westman High Scholl Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Gavin Roche and then with league President Brian Yon from 2004-2008. Sandy would also coach the U18 men in the 2005 and 2009 Canada Summer Games. Along with longtime friend Brian Yon, he was named an assistant coach with the Canada U17 team that toured England in the Fall of 2006. Sandy took a brief step away from coaching the U18 men in 2010 but returned to coach the team in 2011 and 2012 and later served as an assistant coach with the Manitoba Senior Men’s program in 2019 and 2020 before the onset of COVID.
An ardent supporter of his club since his arrival in Canada, Sandy continued to expand his administrative horizons serving as the President of Rugby Manitoba from 2012 to 2018, following that up with his election to the Rugby Canada Board of Directors in 2022. In addition, Sandy currently serves as a World Rugby Match Commissioner and sits on the Board of the Vancouver Rugby 7’s.
During his 45 plus year career at all levels in the sport, Sandy has worked tirelessly to forge positive relationships with other individuals, groups, clubs, Unions and Rugby Canada to foster and created rugby development opportunities for the province of Manitoba.
Sandy Donald is a name synonymous with the game of rugby in Manitoba and particularly throughout the Westman area of the province. Sandy started playing rugby at the tender age of nine at Biggar High School in his homeland of Scotland, and thereafter continued to play when he moved to Canada in 1983 for the Brandon Barbarians RFC where he enjoyed a
15 year long playing career before putting away the mouth guard.
The mouth guard however, was quickly replaced by a whistle as Sandy decided to continue his involvement in the sport as a referee where he would become Westman High School Rugby’s first Referee in Chief in 2003. Sandy remained an experienced referee until 2012 and during this tenure played
a crucial role in recruiting, scheduling,
developing and certifying referees in the Westman area.
Sandy also played an important role in the development of the Crocus Plains Varsity Boys rugby program. Sandy coached the Plainsmen team from 2002-2008 where he developed many young players who would go on to represent Manitoba at National Championships and the Canada Games. Sandy coached the Plainsmen to a Westman High school Rugby Championship and Provincial Championship in 2003. He also coached the Plainsmen to a Westman High School Rugby Final in 2004.
At the High-Performance level, Sandy coached the Rugby Manitoba U18 Men’s team in 2003 with fellow Westman High Scholl Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Gavin Roche and then with league President Brian Yon from 2004-2008. Sandy would also coach the U18 men in the 2005 and 2009 Canada Summer Games. Along with longtime friend Brian Yon, he was named an assistant coach with the Canada U17 team that toured England in the Fall of 2006. Sandy took a brief step away from coaching the U18 men in 2010 but returned to coach the team in 2011 and 2012 and later served as an assistant coach with the Manitoba Senior Men’s program in 2019 and 2020 before the onset of COVID.
An ardent supporter of his club since his arrival in Canada, Sandy continued to expand his administrative horizons serving as the President of Rugby Manitoba from 2012 to 2018, following that up with his election to the Rugby Canada Board of Directors in 2022. In addition, Sandy currently serves as a World Rugby Match Commissioner and sits on the Board of the Vancouver Rugby 7’s.
During his 45 plus year career at all levels in the sport, Sandy has worked tirelessly to forge positive relationships with other individuals, groups, clubs, Unions and Rugby Canada to foster and created rugby development opportunities for the province of Manitoba.