TODAYS HERALD
Teacher collapses and dies in rugby matchGERRY BRAIDEN January 30 2007
A popular young teacher has died of a suspected heart attack while playing rugby.

Andrew Dawson, whose father Hamish played rugby at international level for Scotland, collapsed 20 minutes into a match between his team, Oxford Harlequins, and High Wycombe on Saturday.

Mr Dawson had heart problems last year and had only recently been told by doctors that he was fit enough to resume playing.

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The death of the 27-year-old, from Mauchline in Ayrshire, is the second to hit the rugby fraternity in the west of Scotland in a matter of months. In November Craig Hodgkinson, also 27, died 20 minutes into a game for the Royal Navy in Plymouth.

Mr Hodgkinson, from Strathblane in Stirlingshire, won three national championships with Glasgow Hawks, while Mr Dawson's family is well known within its feeder club, Glasgow Accies.

Last night, Hugh Barrow, secretary for Glasgow Hawks, said those involved in rugby in the city were in "deep shock" over the death.

He said: "It's just two months since we had an almost identical situation with Craig Hodgkinson. It's barely believable that this has happened again. I'm in deep shock and I speak for everyone involved in Anniesland rugby when I pass my deepest condolences to Andrew's father Hamish and his family."

Spectators said that Mr Dawson was holding the ball during a maul when he fell to the ground. Players tried to resuscitate him before paramedics arrived. He was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital but was pronounced dead.

The geography and citizenship teacher at Oxford's Matthew Arnold School, developed heart problems last year and was given medical approval to play again at the start of the season.

Friends said he had flu over Christmas while back in his home town of Mauchline and Saturday was his first match since the beginning of December.

His girlfriend, Rowena Merritt, 29, said yesterday: "Andy was really well loved. He was everybody's friend. He was so gentle and kind."

Friend Jonathon Batt said: "He never had a bad word to say about anyone. He was highly motivated and it is a crying shame that a person who gave so much has been taken from us."

Fellow housemate Peter Trotter, 27, said: "He gave a lot back to the community in which he lived and always put in extra effort for the children he taught at school."

Oxford Harlequins second team manager Neil Hopper praised the efforts of players from both teams for the way they dealt with the emergency.

He said: "There was no panic. Everyone did all they could to bring him back to life."

On Saturday night, just hours after the sudden death, players and others involved with Harlequins and Oxford Rugby Club held a minute's silence before a Burns Night dinner at the ground.

Harlequins' director of rugby Matt Maudsley added: "Andy was a proud Scotsman and the club felt he would have wanted the evening to go ahead in his honour."




FAMOUS FATHER
HAMISH Dawson played for Glasgow Academicals and represented his country in international matches.

He is remembered by many for his part in the Five Nations Championship, Scotland against Wales at Murrayfield in February 1951. The final score was Scotland 19, Wales 0 - a most unexpected result. There had been only one score in the first half but then Scotland took off with two tries by Dawson and Bob Gordon.

Note from Ed
Hamish played alongside such as Percy Friebe and Angus Cameron of Glasgow HSFP in the Sotland jersey

This article was originally posted on 30-Jan-2007, 08:27 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 30-Jan-2007, 15:23.