John Dawes
Only man to captain British & Irish Lions to New Zealand Test triumph
Sydney John Dawes OBE, rugby player. Born: 29 June 1940 in Abercarn, Wales. Died: 16 April 2021, aged 80
Whether as a player or a coach, John Dawes had the Midas touch. Welshman Dawes remains the only player to have captained the British & Irish Lions to a Test series triumph against New Zealand.
But not content with that spectacular success 50 years ago, he also skippered Wales to a Five Nations Grand Slam and forged an enviable coaching reputation, masterminding four Five Nations titles and two Grand Slams in five years during Wales’ 1970s golden era when players like Phil Bennett,
Gerald Davies and JPR Williams reigned supreme.
Dawes coached the Lions when they returned to New Zealand in 1977, and although it proved unsuccessful in terms of the Tests, his place among rugby royalty had already been confirmed.
Born in the south Wales valleys village of Abercarn,
Dawes went on to University College of Wales, Aberystwyth – where he gained a chemistry degree – and Loughborough College. His rugby career began at Newbridge, where he shone as a centre, before making a pivotal move to London and becoming a driving force behind Richmond-based London Welsh’s emergence as arguably the leading club side in world rugby.
Dawes, who made his Wales debut against Ireland in 1964 – he won 22 caps across seven years, skippering his country on six occasions – was appointed captain of the Exiles, and effectively worked as player-coach from the 196566 season. After captaining Wales to a Grand Slam in 1971, his appointment as Lions leader in New Zealand alongside coach and fellow Welshman Carwyn James, surprised noone, and both men rose to the challenge. A 26-game tour lasted for three months, and the Lions suffered a solitary defeat in New Zealand – a second Test reversal in Christchurch – but victories in Dunedin and Wellington, before a fourth Test draw at Eden Park, Auckland, ensured that history was made.
He coached Wales until 1979 and was inducted into the Welsh rugby international players’ hall of fame, and World Rugby’s hall of fame. Dawes went on to be Wales’ national coaching organiser, until 1990. He is survived by partner Jill and children Michael and Catherine.