| Sandy MacDonald | |
| Full Name: | James Alexander MacDonald |
| Birth Date: | 20 December 1853 |
| Birth Place: | Newtownards, County Down, Ireland |
| Death Place: | Taunton, Somerset, England |
| Position: | Forward |
| Repyears1: | 1875–84 |
| Repcaps1: | 13 |
| Reppoints1: | 0 |
James Alexander MacDonald (20 December 1853 — 23 April 1928) was an Irish international rugby union player.
Born in Newtownards, County Down, MacDonald was a pioneer of Irish rugby football and gained 13 caps as a front row forward for Ireland, including their first international against England in 1875. He captained the team his last year in 1884 and retired as Ireland's caps-record holder, later surpassed by Charles Rooke.[1] [2]
MacDonald also played association football for Cliftonville FC.[2]
A physician, MacDonald attained medical degrees from Queen's College, Belfast, and the Royal University of Ireland. He had a medical practice in Taunton, Somerset, and served as chairman of the Council of the British Medical Association.[3]