Product Code Database
John Dewar Dallas (11 June 1878 – 31 July 1942) John Dallas player profile Scrum.com was a Scotland international rugby union player. Dallas played international rugby for Scotland but is more notable as a rugby referee, and his officiating of the "Match of the Century", the famous encounter between Wales and New Zealand in 1905, a match seen as one of the greatest games in the history of the rugby union. He became the 39th President of the Scottish Rugby Union.
Dallas played club rugby for Watsonians RFC. He was elected Vice-Captain in 1898. He won the Scottish Unofficial Championship with Watsonians in the 1902–03 season.
This was Dallas' first international match as a referee but the game started controversially for him as he was criticised for his poor choice of attire. Dallas turned up for the match wearing street clothes and his boots had neither bars or studs.Smith (1980), pg 167. Dallas was also criticised during the game for being unable to keep up with the action. In a thrilling game, the match was decided by a single try, scored by Teddy Morgan to give Wales the win. Unfortunately for Dallas the game is also remembered for a controversial decision where New Zealand centre Bob Deans claimed to have grounded the ball over the Welsh goal line, only to have the try disallowed by Dallas. Deans stated that he scored the try, but was dragged back over the line by the Welsh defence. When the greatest game was played walesonline.co.uk 8 October 2005 Although New Zealand manager Dixon attacked Dallas in private for not being able to keep up with the game, and thus missing the try; Dallas had no doubts, he believed that Deans had grounded the ball 6 to 12 inches short.Smith (1980), pg 168.
The IRB kept faith with Dallas, and he continued to referee at international level, officiating over the Wales vs. Ireland encounter in the 1908 Home Nations Championship then Wales vs. England and Ireland vs. England in the 1909 Championship. Dallas refereed four more matches, when the Championship became the Five Nations Championship with the inclusion of France. Dallas was given the England vs Wales and Ireland vs. Wales in the 1910 Five Nations Championship, Ireland vs. England in the 1911 Championship and a final game in the 1912 tournament between Ireland and Wales.
Dallas refereed one more international match and it provides a quirky claim to fame. This was the Ireland v South Africa match in 1912. Originally the match was supposed to be refereed by Frank Potter-Irwin, the English referee. However, in the days before the match Potter-Irwin fell ill. The Scottish Rugby Union stepped in to help. They suggested John Tulloch, the Scottish referee, and this was accepted by both teams. Some of the press reports still credit Tulloch or Potter-Irwin for the match. However it was Dallas that took the field rather than Tulloch. More quirkier, Dallas became injured or 'lame' in the first half and could not continue for the second half. So the Irish referee Fred Gardiner had to step in and referee the second half. It was this international match that first saw the use of a substitute referee: Dallas the original referee and Gardiner the substitute.
He was one of two Scottish representatives on the International Rugby Board.
Dallas was a notable tennis player.
He also partook in other sports:- golf, bowling, angling and shot.
|
|
