adminformer did not attend formal school after dropping out to work in a sawmill while Dawson was fortunate enough to attend school.
Campese came to Zimbabwe following an International Rugby Board arrangement with the Zimbabwe Rugby Union that the former winger would help the Young Sables technical team in preparing for the Junior World Rugby Trophy.
But this is not the first time that Campese is coming to Zimbabwe as he was last here in 1998 when New South Wales took on the Sables with the visitors walking away 49-11 winners.
Born in 1962 Campese carries 101 caps for the Wallabies having worn the Number 11 jersey for 15 years and this feat saw him become the first Australian to record more than 100 Test caps for the Wallabies.
Having been so outstanding, Campese was voted Player-of-the-Tournament at the 1991 World Cup after scoring six tries in the competition and nine tries in other competitions.
This was also the same year that the Sables last tasted the feel of a World Cup game and lost all their three games to Ireland, Scotland and Japan, four years after taking part in the inaugural World Cup.
But at one stage or another, their lines of life happen to meet.
Dawson was part of the Zimbabwe squad that travelled for the 1991 World Cup tournament in a squad that included local greats like Alex Nichols, the late Richard
Tsimba, Honeywell Nguruve with Brian Currin captaining the side.
While Campese holds his own records Dawson — who played in the same era with the full-back — was also building his own name through the Sables and he went on to become captain of the national side.
Dawson is also the most capped player in Zimbabwe after attaining 100 caps for the Sables and like Campese he still remembers the day the Sables lost to New South Wales in 1998.
“I still remember the game. There was a flanker who kept on annoying me,” said Campese but little did he know that the man he was talking of is now the Sables coach, Dawson.
It was not until Wednesday night that the two met again after 12 years as they engaged in moments filled with laughter and memories.
However, this time it was not on the field of play but at the Young Sables send off dinner that saw Campese making it as the guest of honour and motivational speaker to the touring teenagers.
As it emerged on the night Campese is also a great speaker.
He was fluent, straight to the point and of course comical in trying to express a point. But during the training sessions the Australian legend proved that he does not tolerate nonsense as shown by the way he conducted business with the Young Sables.
Away from the Young Sables Campese spends most if his time focusing on his Hong Kong rugby academy that he launched last year and lives in Durban, South Africa where he is involved in rugby commentary with SuperSport television.
He also is involved in junior rugby coaching with the Murray Mexted Investec Academy as well as private coaching.
Despite having other businesses in Bulawayo, Dawson’s life has pretty much remained pinned on rugby too as he has also grown to own Matabeleland Warriors, a rugby club in the National Rugby League that he also coaches.
Indeed coming face to face at the send off dinner after such a long time was another memorable time for Campo and Dawson who both enjoyed time with the Young Sables.
Online Reporter