Colin Dixon

Rugby career

Dixon, like Gus Risman and Billy Boston, was a product of South Church Street School in Cardiff's Butetown. Playing in the Cardiff RFC Youth team, he was already showing something of his future potential but was overlooked by Wales (RU) Youth. As a seventeen-year-old he signed for Halifax in 1961. Initially he played as a centre, providing many tries for his Wing John "Johnny" Freeman, by coincidence also a former pupil of South Church Street School, but it was not until he moved to the back row of the pack in 1963 that he revealed his tremendous power. Dixon played left-centre, i.e. number 4, in Halifax's 10-0 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1963 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1963–64 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 2 November 1963. In 1964 he was a key player in the first Halifax side to win the championship since 1907.

As Halifax's captain in the 1967 and 1968 seasons Dixon led the side by example and was rewarded with his first Great Britain cap in 1968. Transferred a few weeks later to Salford for a record £15,000 (based on average earnings, this would be approximately £366,000 in 2007), he played in the Challenge Cup Final of 1969 losing to Castleford. Had Salford won he would almost certainly have been awarded the Lance Todd Trophy. That same season he was the League's highest scoring forward with 20 tries.

Dixon played in the Great Britain 1972 World Cup winning side and toured Australasia in 1974, playing in all three Tests against Australia (1 win, 2 losses) and all three in New Zealand (2 wins, 1 loss). Perhaps the highlight of his successful club career was winning the League Championship with Salford in 1973–74 and again in 1975–76. As an international he won 15 caps for Wales and 14 for Great Britain. He played his last game for Salford in 1980, but played one last season in the Premiership winning Hull Kingston Rovers team during the 1980–81 season. He played 418 times for Salford with 738 appearances in all first class games. Only five players have played test matches for Great Britain as both a back and a forward, they are; Colin Dixon, Frank Gallagher, Laurie Gilfedder, Billy Jarman, and Harry Street.

County Cup Final appearances

Colin Dixon played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Salford's 25-11 victory over Swinton in the 1972 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1972–73 season at Wilderspool, Warrington on Saturday 21 October 1972, played left-second-row, i.e. number 11, in the 9-19 defeat by Wigan in the 1973 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1973–74 season at Wilderspool, Warrington on Saturday 13 October 1973, played right-centre, i.e. number 3, in the 2-6 defeat by Widnes in the 1974 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1974–75 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 2 November 1974, and played right-prop, i.e. number 10, in the 7-16 defeat by Widnes in the 1975 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1975–76 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 4 October 1975.

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances

Colin Dixon played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Salford's 0-0 draw with Warrington in the 1974 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1974–75 season at the Willows, Salford on Tuesday 17 December 1974, and played left-second-row, i.e. number 11, in the 10-5 victory over Warrington in the 1974 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final replay during the 1974–75 season at Wilderspool, Warrington on Tuesday 28 January 1975.

Player's No.6 Trophy Final appearances

Colin Dixon played loose forward/lock, and scored a try in Salford's 7-12 defeat by Leeds in the 1972–73 Player's No.6 Trophy Final during the 1972–73 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 24 March 1973.