Matt Dawson

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Lore & Background

Dawson was best known for his trademark 'sniping runs' and played the whistle well, often scoring tries from 'tap and go' penalties. When called upon, he could also demonstrate his versatility by kicking goals. Since retiring, Dawson has become a team captain on A Question of Sport besides appearing on various reality shows and is a commentator and presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live's rugby programme. Dawson currently works as a health ambassador for Sodexo, a global food and facilities provider. In early 2014, he was appointed as director for business development at the flexible workplace company, Instant.

In Their Own Story

With less than a minute remaining in extra time of the 2003 World Cup final against Australia in Sydney, Dawson made a completely unexpected break, gaining a vital 20 metres upfield. From the later ruck he fed the ball to Jonny Wilkinson for the winning drop goal. Earlier that year, he won his 50th cap against Ireland on the same day England won the 2003 Six Nations Grand Slam. His career nearly ended after sustaining a neck injury during the record 53–3 win against South Africa in November 2002, when he was headbutted by Springbok skipper Corné Krige. In the autumn of 2004, he failed to turn up to an England training camp due to a previously arranged commitment to appear on A Question of Sport, resulting in him being dropped from the England squad for the 2004 Autumn internationals.

Reader's Guide

Dawson made his international debut for England in December 1995, against Western Samoa. He went on the 1997 British Lions tour to South Africa as third-choice scrum-half behind Healey and Rob Howley, but injury to Howley and some good performances saw Dawson make the starting line-up. In the first test with ten minutes to go, Dawson broke from the base of a scrum and threw an overhead dummy that checked the four Springboks allowing him to scamper in for the winning try. That victory was the start of a 2–1 series win, clinched when he fed Jeremy Guscott for the series-winning drop goal. Dawson captained England for the first time when he was chosen as captain for the infamous 1998 'tour from hell' in the absence of more experienced internationals.

Did You Know?

• Dawson was a member of the England Sevens team which won the inaugural Sevens World Cup in Scotland in 1993.
• He scored England's first try of the 1999 Rugby World Cup just eight minutes into the opening match against Italy.
• Dawson's career nearly ended after sustaining a neck injury during the record 53–3 win against South Africa in November 2002, when he was headbutted by Springbok skipper Corné Krige.
• He won Celebrity MasterChef in 2006 and came second in Strictly Come Dancing the same year.
• Dawson became a UNICEF UK ambassador in 2009.