Peter John Dixon was selected to tour
with the British Lions before he gained an International cap
for his country.
On the 1971 tour of New Zealand, Dixon played
as a flanker as well as a Number 8 where his strength and
destructive prowess proved invaluable in snuffing out any offensives
at
the base of the scrum. He sustained a head injury in the
second test and was therefore
dropped
for the third Test, but returned in style for the fourth
where his try, converted by Barry John, brought the scores
level
before JPR clinched the series victory with a drop goal.
An Oxford doctorate, he was considered one of the quiet men
of
the ’71 Lions except when laden with his beloved
guitar. Dixon made his International debut for England
in 1971
and went on to win 22 caps (twice as captain in 1972).
The Harlequins
player retired from International rugby in 1978.
