Richard Williams’s obituary of the rugby player John Dawes (4 June) mentions that he taught at “a school in Hounslow”. The school was Spring Grove grammar, but he coached football, not rugby, because the school didn’t play it. When a group of boys asked him if they could form a rugby team he agreed readily. We had no idea that he was already a significant player nor that he would go on to be a giant of the game. Even though we were a motley crew of no-hopers he took to his task with seriousness, vigour and kindness. He even arranged a couple of games for us, which we lost soundly. We were lucky to have experienced his gifted coaching and driving belief in open rugby.
