John Dawes
Encyclopedia
Sydney John Dawes OBE
(born 29 June 1940 in Chapel of Ease, part of Abercarn
near Newbridge, South Wales
) is a former Welsh
rugby union
player, playing at centre, and later coach. He captained London Welsh
, Wales
, the Barbarians
and the British Lions
. He was made an OBE
in the 1972 New Years Honours List for services to sport.
. He gained a degree in chemistry and later achieved a PGCE
at Loughborough College, where he met his future wife, Janette Morris.
, then joined London Welsh
. Winning his first cap for Wales against Ireland
in 1964. He was selected for Wales' first overseas tour later the same year and played in the Welsh rugby team's first match outside of Europe and its first in the Southern Hemisphere
; played against East Africa
in Nairobi
on 12 May 1964, Wales winning 8-26. He went on to make twenty two appearances for Wales, captaining the side in six of them, including leading the Grand Slam
winning side of 1971.
. This side, coached by Carwyn James
, became the first and so far the only Lions team to win a series in New Zealand. Dawes was also captain of the Barbarians
side that beat New Zealand in Cardiff in 1973. Today he holds a proud record for any Welshman in the fact that as a player or coach he has never lost to an England side.
, but was unable to repeat the success of 1971. He is currently president of London Welsh RFC and has written several books on rugby union.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 29 June 1940 in Chapel of Ease, part of Abercarn
Abercarn
Abercarn is a small town community in Caerphilly county borough, Wales, 10 miles north-west of Newport on the A467 between Cwmcarn and Newbridge, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire.-History:...
near Newbridge, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
) is a former Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player, playing at centre, and later coach. He captained London Welsh
London Welsh R.F.C.
London Welsh Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in London that currently plays in The Championship, the second level of the English rugby union league system .-Club history:...
, Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
, the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
and the British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
. He was made an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the 1972 New Years Honours List for services to sport.
Education
Dawes was educated at Lewis School Pengam, and later University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and Loughborough CollegeLoughborough College
Loughborough College is a college of Further Education in Leicestershire, England established in 1909. It is located opposite Loughborough University on Epinal Way, and adjacent to the Loughborough University School of Art and Design, situated next to the main entrance of the college...
. He gained a degree in chemistry and later achieved a PGCE
PGCE
PGCE can stand for:* Postgraduate Certificate in Education, an English, Welsh and Northern Irish teacher-training qualification that includes master's credits...
at Loughborough College, where he met his future wife, Janette Morris.
Rugby career
Dawes played club rugby for Newbridge in MonmouthshireMonmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
, then joined London Welsh
London Welsh R.F.C.
London Welsh Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in London that currently plays in The Championship, the second level of the English rugby union league system .-Club history:...
. Winning his first cap for Wales against Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
in 1964. He was selected for Wales' first overseas tour later the same year and played in the Welsh rugby team's first match outside of Europe and its first in the Southern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
; played against East Africa
East Africa rugby union team
Established in 1950, The East Africa rugby union team is a multi-national rugby union team drawing players from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, though the vast majority of these came from Kenya which has traditionally been the strongest rugby playing nation in this part of the world...
in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
on 12 May 1964, Wales winning 8-26. He went on to make twenty two appearances for Wales, captaining the side in six of them, including leading the Grand Slam
Grand Slam (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition...
winning side of 1971.
British Lion captain and Barbarian
In 1971, Dawes was appointed captain of the British and Irish Lions side for the tour to New Zealand1971 British Lions tour to New Zealand
In 1971 the British Lions toured New Zealand, also playing two matches in Australia. Despite losing the first match to Queensland the tour was a great success, the Lions winning the test series against the All Blacks. They are still the only Lions side to have won a test series in New Zealand...
. This side, coached by Carwyn James
Carwyn James
Carwyn Rees James was a Welsh rugby union player and coach. He won two Welsh international caps but is most famous for his coaching achievements for both Llanelli and the British Lions.-Personal history:...
, became the first and so far the only Lions team to win a series in New Zealand. Dawes was also captain of the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
side that beat New Zealand in Cardiff in 1973. Today he holds a proud record for any Welshman in the fact that as a player or coach he has never lost to an England side.
Wales rugby and Lions Coach
After retiring as a player, Dawes became coach of the Welsh national side in 1974, a post he held until 1979. This was one of the most successful periods in the history of Welsh rugby, with the team winning the Five Nations Championship four times in the five seasons between 1975 and 1979, including two Grand Slams. He also coached the 1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand
In 1977 the British Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand. The Lions played 26 matches, including four internationals against the All Blacks. They lost the series against the All Blacks by three matches to one. The team played as the British Isles in their internationals against the All Blacks...
, but was unable to repeat the success of 1971. He is currently president of London Welsh RFC and has written several books on rugby union.