Matt Dawson

Matthew James Sutherland Dawson, born on October 31, 1972, in Birkenhead, England, began his rugby career at Northampton Saints in 1991 during the sport’s amateur era. He balanced his early playing days with working as a security guard and coaching at Spratton Hall School. Dawson formed a notable half-back partnership with Paul Grayson at Northampton, contributing to the club’s success, including a Heineken Cup victory in 2000. He remained with Northampton until 2004, playing 246 games for the club.

Dawson transitioned to London Wasps in 2004, where he continued to achieve success, securing a Premiership title in his first season with the club before retiring from professional rugby in 2006. Internationally, Dawson earned 77 caps for England, captaining his country nine times. A key moment in his career was being part of the England squad that won the Rugby World Cup in 2003, where his crucial play led to Jonny Wilkinson’s winning drop goal in the final. He also toured with the British & Irish Lions three times, earning 7 caps. After retiring from rugby, Dawson moved into media, becoming a team captain on ‘A Question of Sport’ and a rugby commentator and presenter for BBC Radio 5 Live. He has also appeared on reality television shows such as ‘Celebrity MasterChef’ and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.

Beyond his sports and media career, Dawson has engaged in various business and charitable endeavors. He has served as a health ambassador for Sodexo and was appointed Director for Business Development at Instant, a flexible workplace company, in 2014. Dawson is also involved in significant charitable work, including serving as President of Sparks, a children’s medical research charity, and as a UNICEF UK ambassador since 2009. He has actively participated in fundraising events, such as a 150-mile cycle ride for Sparks and the London Marathon for charity. His autobiography, ‘Nine Lives,’ was published in 2004.