James 'Hamish' Cooper Dawson (29 October 1925 â 19 October 2007) was a rugby union international who represented Scotland from 1947 to 1953 gaining 20 caps.
Dawson was educated at Glasgow Academy, Strathallan School in Perthshire and The Queen's College, Oxford. He was a talented all-round sportsman, particularly swimming, cricket and rugby. Dawson received a blue for Oxford University, playing against Cambridge University in the 1943âÂÂ44 season.
He played club rugby for Glasgow Academicals RFC, London Scottish FC and the Barbarians FC.
Dawson was capped for Glasgow District.
He played for the Cities District side in their match against Australia in October 1947.
He turned out for the Scotland Probables side in 1947.
Dawson made his debut for Scotland in a 16âÂÂ7 loss to Australia at Murrayfield during their 1947âÂÂ48 tour of Great Britain, one of eight new Scotland caps that day. His first three caps were played at lock, which included a 9âÂÂ8 victory over France at Murrayfield and a 14âÂÂ0 loss to Wales in Cardiff in the 1948 Five Nations Championship.
Dawson's next seventeen caps were played at prop starting with an 8âÂÂ0 victory over France in the 1949 Five Nations Championship in Paris. This was followed by a 6âÂÂ5 win over Wales at Murrayfield and a 13âÂÂ3 defeat to Ireland at the same venue. He played all four matches in the 1950 Five Nations Championship, starting with a third consecutive victory over France, 8âÂÂ5 in Edinburgh. Scotland lost 12âÂÂ0 to Wales and 21âÂÂ0 to Ireland in Cardiff and Dublin respectively. Regaining some pride with a 13âÂÂ11 win against England at Murrayfield.
In 1951 Dawson played on five occasions for Scotland, starting with a 14âÂÂ12 loss to France in Paris. On 3 February, he scored his only points for Scotland with a try in a 19âÂÂ0 win against Wales at Murrayfield. Three weeks later Scotland lost narrowly to Ireland, 6âÂÂ5 in Edinburgh, starting a run of 17 consecutive matches without a win, lasting until 1955. Dawson also played in the 5âÂÂ3 defeat to England at Twickenham; Scotland avoiding the 1951 Five Nations Championship wooden spoon on points difference. Later that year Scotland suffered a record 44âÂÂ0 loss to South Africa at Murrayfield, with South Africa losing only once on their 31-game 1951âÂÂ52 rugby tour.
Dawson played in all four matches of the 1952 Five Nations Championship. Scotland losing all four matches: 13âÂÂ11 to France in Edinburgh, 11âÂÂ0 to Wales in Cardiff, 12âÂÂ8 to Ireland in Dublin and 19âÂÂ3 to England at Murrayfield. Dawson played his last match for Scotland against England at Twickenham in a 26âÂÂ8 loss in the 1953 Five Nations Championship, Scotland receiving the 'wooden spoon' for the second consecutive year.
In 1943 he joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, initially serving as a midshipman based at HMS King Alfred and then transferring to HMS Ulysses (R69) in the British Pacific Fleet. Dawson then served as a sub-lieutenant on a minesweeper in Hong Kong until December 1946.
After the war, he qualified as a chartered accountant in 1948. He rose through the ranks of Ritchies Paper Products Limited finally becoming managing director in 1968.