- Date of Birth29 / 06 / 1940
- Died16 / 04 / 2021
- Lions Tours1971
- International CapsWales / Lions
- Lions Origin SchoolsLewis School Pengam
- Lions Origin ClubsLondon Welsh, Barbarians, Loughborough Students, Newbridge
Wales centre John Dawes was a stalwart of the 1971 Lions Tour to Australia and New Zealand, captaining the side and making 19 appearances during the three-month sojourn.
Dawes appeared in all four of the Tests, playing a key role in the 2-1 overall Lions victory and scoring five tries in his 19 starts on the Tour.
His Lions debut came in the opening game of the Tour, a 15-11 loss to Queensland, but he would go on to lose only once more in the famous red shirt of the Lions, in the second Test in Christchurch.
During his domestic career Dawes played for Newbridge, London Welsh, Leicestershire, Surrey and Middlesex.
His four caps for the Lions, and 22 for Wales, would also earn him the skipper role for the Barbarians side that beat New Zealand, in Cardiff, in 1973.
He stayed involved in the game after retirement, and was named as coach for the 1977 Lions Tour to New Zealand.