The time that Dixon bolted out of the blue
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Bolters seem to be less common in top rugby these days but as teams finalise their World Cup squads the experience of the late Peter Dixon should be borne in mind. Sometimes a punt comes off.
Dixon, below, whose death at the age of 79 was announced earlier this week, was uncapped by England in the spring of 1971 when Carwyn James announced him in his Lions squad to tour New Zealand.
More than that James promptly started Dixon at blindside flanker in three of the four Tests – the win in Dunedin, defeat in Christchurch and the drawn fourth Test in Auckland.
The proud Cumbrian had a great track record against the Kiwis, going on to play starring roles in the North West Counties victory over the All Blacks at Workington in 1972 and again for the North at Otley in 1979. To his chagrin England lost 10-9 to the Kiwis in his final Test appearance seven days after the North's triumph.
Despite his abundant class, England, however, never fully appreciated his talents and he should have won double the 22 caps he was awarded.
Having learned his rugby at St Bees College and Durham University, Dixon won four Blues at Oxford and played for Harlequins before returning to the North to spearhead the emerging Gosforth club, later to morph into Newcastle Falcons.
“Peter was a fantastic bloke, with a very good rugby mind and very bright,” recalls Roger Uttley a team-mate at Gosforth and with the North and England.
“He was well respected in New Zealand and throughout the rugby world. In that generation, everyone had huge respect for Peter, and he will be much missed.”
