RUGBY coach Colin Tattersall won the Sports Personality of the year award and celebrated with the news that one of his prodigies, Matt Dawson, has been made England captain.

The High Wycombe Royal Grammar School sportsmaster carried off the Wycombe and Marlow Sports Council Award on Friday night and his outstanding contribution to local rugby was underlined on Tuesday when ex-pupil Dawson was made England skipper for their southern hemisphere tour next month.

Awards organiser Anita Templar said: "It is wonderful news and it just goes to show that Colin's an extremley worthy winner of our award. A lot of hard work and dedication goes into his coaching.

"We are proud to acknowledge him and Pat Siderfin (female Sports Personality) for her work in promoting women's cricket."

It is the first time the annual awards have been open to coaches and Tattersall was a clear winner.

He has guided his pupils to three consecutive Twickenham finals in the Daily Mail Schools Cup and seen several of his former charges receive national call-ups.

Former RGS pupil Nick Beal, who used to play for High Wycombe Rugby Club, is also in the 37 man England squad for the Australia, New Zealand and South African tour this summer.

Modest Tattersall said: "I will be extremely proud when Matt leads England out this summer. It will be a great day for him and a great day for the school. He will be the first former RGS boy to captain England.

"It was very special to win the sports personality award. But I think seeing Matt get the captaincy means more to me. He was my captain at school and now he's gone on to captain England."

He added: "I didn't expect to win the award. A coach is only as good as the team. I'm lucky because I work with other members of staff who also give their time up. I just come along and put the icing on the cake."

Tattersall, who last year was headhunted by another school and turned it down, is now preparing to take the RGS team on a ground-breaking tour to South Africa this summer.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.