he rowed with the coxed eight in the 1975 world rowing championships in nottingham, great britain, and won a bronze medal. dignan represented new zealand in the 1976 montreal olympic games and won a bronze medal for his row in the men's eight along with tony hurt, alec mclean, ivan sutherland, trevor coker, lindsay wilson, joe earl and dave rodger and simon dickie (cox). he subsequently participated in surf boat tests internationally, racing for new zealand, including a 'rebel' tour to south africa. he retired undefeated. dignan also played rugby. dignan's son matthew is also a representative rower, and is in the australian under-19 coxed four.