Former Ireland and Lions captain and illustrious Ireland coach and rugby administrator Ronnie Dawson has died at the age of 92.
The Dubliner, who played at hooker, made a try-scoring international debut against Australia in 1958 and would go on to have a storied career in the game both on and off the pitch.
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, 11 of which were as captain, while he also represented the Barbarians 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 9-6, which remains the only victory home nations players have enjoyed in Eden Park apart from the English win in 1973.
The Wanderers club man was appointed assistant manager/coach of the 1968 Lions captained by Tom Kiernan and he became a Lions and Ireland selector and was appointed as the first coach of Ireland in 1969.
In later life, he was elected to the IRFU executive committee in June 1970 and would go on to serve as president of the IRFU for the 1989–90 season 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.”