Dunes to couch Wales

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33456, 11 February 1974, Page 3

Dunes to couch Wales

' (.V.Z.F.A, Staff Correspondent) LONDON. The appointment of S. J. Dawes, successful captain of the 1971 British Lions Rugby team, as the Welsh , national coach might well lead to his return to New Zealand in 1977. / The job Dawes was ap■(pointed to in succession to (Clive Rowlands, who stood ‘(down at the end of this sea- ( son, was one which many I Welshmen felt was available (to Mr C. James should he want it. But Mr James, a ; man rather neglected by his • lown country’s Rugby admin.l istrators, made it clear he was not available. Mr Dawes, will prepare (Welsh national sides for the • next three seasons — the .(time left before the Lions /next tour New Zealand. : It is early days yet, but ((speculation that Mr Dawes. •is already in line for the assistant manager's job with (the 1977 Lions — the position so ably filled by Mr • James in 1971 — is inevitable. At 33, Mr Dawes is probably the youngest international rugby coach in the world. In an international ' career that began in 1964 i and finished in 1971 he was ,• capped in 22 internationals ; for Wales, and also appeared in all four tests against the • All Blacks for the Lions in 1971.