Yet Another Cycling Forum

Off Topic => The Pub => The Sporting Life => Topic started by: Wowbagger on 16 April, 2021, 08:49:40 pm

Title: John Dawes (1940-2021)
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 April, 2021, 08:49:40 pm

Bugger. He really was an all-time great and, in my view, never received the accolades he deserved.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56776411

Title: Re: John Dawes (1940-2021)
Post by: Peter on 16 April, 2021, 08:52:42 pm

Wow, I'm really surprised to find out that he had relatively few caps, even allowing for the fact that there were fewer matches.  It says a lot for his calibre thsat he was chosen to lead the Lions.  RIP.

Title: Re: John Dawes (1940-2021)
Post by: Wowbagger on 16 April, 2021, 11:56:49 pm

I think a great deal of his reputation rested on him being an outstanding strategist. When he was at London Welsh, they seemed to be pretty well invincible. The Wales team of the 1970s was largely based on them, plus the Pontypool Front Row.

My dad was always proud of the fact that some pretty significant people followed him through the Lewis School, Pengam*. As well as John Dawes, there was Tony Lewis and Neil Kinnock. Not a lot to be proud of with the last one though...

*"The Winchester of Wales", according to David Lloyd George. Except, of course, it wasn't a fee-paying establishment.