Oct 14,2024
Former Ireland and Lions captain, first Ireland coach and rugby administrator Ronnie Dawson has died at the age of 92.
The Dubliner, who played his club rugby for Wanderers FC, made a try-scoring international debut against Australia in 1958.
He enjoyed an illustrious career on the pitch as a hooker, before serving Irish and international rugby in a number of administrative positions.
Dawson represented Ireland on 27 occasions between 1958 and 1965, captaining his country 11 times, and his home province of Leinster 28 times between 1958 and 1964.
He was a keen member of the Barbarians, whom he represented 22 times on their Easter Tour and other matches between 1956 and 1965 (including the 1957 tour to South Africa).
Dawson was captain of the British Lions on their 1959 tour to Australia, New Zealand and Canada. He established a Lions record of six tests as captain, (which was later equalled by Martin Johnson).
Notably, he was captain during the final test in Eden Park that the Lions won 6–9, which remains the only victory home nations players have enjoyed in Eden Park apart from the English win in 1973.
Dawson was educated in St Andrew's College Dublin and Dublin Institute of Technology Bolton Street where he qualified as an architect, going on to work as an architect with Bank of Ireland.
Dawson was unavailable to tour South Africa with the Lions in 1962, but was appointed assistant manager/coach of the 1968 Lions captained by Tom Kiernan.
He became a Lions and Ireland selector and was appointed as the first coach of Ireland in 1969.
In later life, Dawson continued his long association and commitment to the game in Ireland.
He was elected to the IRFU executive committee in June 1970 and served the Leinster Branch as president in the 1972-73 season. He was elected president of the IRFU for the 1989–90 season (prior to his retirement from the IRFU Committee in 1994) and in recent years was a trustee of the IRFU.
Dawson was also an Irish representative on the Five Nations Committee, chairman of the International Rugby Board (now World Rugby), and a member of the Rugby World Cup Organising Committee for the first RWC tournament in 1987.
"Ronnie Dawson was an iconic figure in Irish and international rugby whose impact transcended many eras," IRFU Chief Executive Kevin Potts said.
"He made significant impressions as a player, coach, manager and administrator for Wanderers, Leinster, the Barbarians, the British & Irish Lions, World Rugby and Ireland.
"He was a quintessential leader and leaves a lasting legacy which will never be forgotten. We extend our sympathies to his daughters Sandra and Jackie, his son Nigel and a very wide circle of family and friends at this sad time."
