Tribute to Peter Dixon
The RFU has paid tribute to former England back row, Peter ‘Lenny’ Dixon, who has died aged 79 following a short illness.
Born in Keighley, West Yorkshire, he was educated at St Bees in Cumbria and Oxford University, where he gained four rugby Blues from 1967 to 1971.
He played for North West Counties when they defeated the All Blacks at home in 1972 and for the North team who beat them in 1979.
He played senior club rugby initially for Harlequins and was selected for the 1971 British & Irish Lions' successful tour of New Zealand, playing in three of the four Tests and scoring the only try in Auckland, the Lions winning the series 2-1.
He played for North West Counties when they defeated the All Blacks at home in 1972 and for the North team who beat them in 1979. He also played for Cumberland & Westmorland at county level. His first England cap came in 1971 and he went on to secure 22 caps in all.
At Gosforth, he formed an indomitable back row with Roger Uttley and Dave Robinson, the team winning the John Player Cup in 1976 and 1977. He went back to Gosforth to help coach them in 1994-95, helping the team to retain Second Division status.
He worked in overseas development at Durham University, and helped coach there too.
Said back row teammate Roger Uttley: “When Peter came to Gosforth, having been on the 71 Lions tour, everyone was delighted and for me, as a younger player, he was a tremendously valuable mentor who became a great friend.
“Peter was a fantastic bloke, with a very good rugby mind and very bright. 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.”
