The interesting biography of John Dawes, Welsh rugby union player, captain and coach, WRU organiser and British Lions captain and coach, reflecting in particular on his illustrious contribution to the successes of the third golden era of Welsh rugby during the late 1960s and the 1970s. 19 black-and-white photographs.

Cofiant diddorol John Dawes, chwaraewr rygbi, capten a hyfforddwr tîm rygbi Cymru, trefnydd Undeb Rygbi Cymru a chapten a hyfforddwr y Llewod, yn adlewyrchu'n arbennig ei gyfraniad nodedig i lwyddiannau trydedd oes aur rygbi Cymru yn ystod yr 1960au hwyr a'r 1970au. 19 ffotograff du-a-gwyn.

This book completes David Parry Jones’s trilogy of the three Golden Eras of Welsh Rugby, seen through the eyes of the protagonists of these eras – Gwyn Nichols pre World War 1, John Gwilliam in the 1950s and John Dawes in the 1970s. Of these times he considers the 1970s the greatest, with three Grand Slams and five Triple Crowns with four in succession 1976-79. John Dawes first played and then coached Wales in these decades of the 1960s and 1970s.

The books gives us a sequential and progressive narrative in Parry Jones’s adopted style following Dawes’s career from Abercarn and Pengam School, Aberystwyth University, London Welsh, Wales, the Lions as captain and coach, Welsh coach and finally Coaching Organiser. He quotes Dawes on the main incidents of these years and it is an honest assessment of a man who admits to making mistakes along the way as well as masterminding the only Lions party to win in New Zealand, in 1971. The contrast between this close knit, comparatively small unit which played 24 fixtures with only three ‘backroom’ men, is revealing in context of the 2005 Lions.

London Welsh was the furnace in which John Dawes forged his Rugby philosophy. There was a strong emphasis on fitness and training, rare in the 1960s. The ball was to be moved and supported by all players. He both practised and preached this philosophy. And it was to start young – hence his appointment of development officers as Coaching Organiser.

Success at the highest level, job commitment and social demands were strains that led to marriage breakdown and a dark and depressing few years, and in 1990 when Dennis Evans took over as secretary of the WRU with his policy of ‘Quest for excellence’, Dawes was shown the door at the professionally awkward age of 50. Since then his links have been tenuous, through old friends, but he still has strong views. He believes that substitutes should be for injury only and has no time for the last ten minutes of ‘musical chairs’ of contemporary internationals. Equally, players should remain on the field at half time – away from the coach’s influence.

The author quotes Dawes in a formal manner and he appears to have been a difficult person to interview. Dawes himself writes a foreword and an epilogue to give a personal touch. This is to me the best of the Trilogy, and for those of us contemporaneous with the Dawes era it makes compelling, insightful and informative reading.

Geoff Edwards

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgement should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

Gellir defnyddio’r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatad Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.