England Rugby World Cup team 2003

England Rugby World Cup team 2003
Image by Julius Silver from Pixabay

14 Jason Robinson: Retired from international rugby in September 2005 to raise sheep and hens in a farm north of Preston at which there is no broadband or mobile reception. Is currently part way through his testimonial year with Sale. Employed by Gillette to endorse their products and used by HSBC as one of their rugby ambassadors. Rarely seen off his horse.

13 Will Greenwood: Packed in the game in 2006 and now works in the media as a columnist for the Daily Telegraph and as a pundit and co-commentator for Sky Sports. Turned out in the Help for Heroes fund-raiser in October where he proved he can still cut it. Has also advertised Braun shavers.

12 Mike Tindall: Changed clubs, switching from Bath to West Country rivals Gloucester. A broken leg ruled him out of the 2007 World Cup. Toured New Zealand with England last summer, though subsequently demoted to Saxons squad by Martin Johnson on July 1. Currently awaiting sentence for a drink-driving conviction.

11 Ben Cohen: Moved to Brive after buying himself out of his Northampton club contract. Before this weekend had scored one try in seven Top 14 league appearances for the French side. Came to notice in February when he recreated the classic man-and-child Athena poster with his five-month old daughter Isabelle for the Problem Shared campaign which supports first-time fathers.

10 Jonny Wilkinson: Made impressive start to the season with Newcastle until he dislocated his knee cap in a Premiership fixture against Gloucester. That followed three separate shoulder injuries, various knee ligament damage as well as problems with his kidneys, adductor muscle and appendix since the World Cup. Worth £11 million according to a newspaper rich list, as much as Charlotte Church and Gavin Henson combined.

9 Matt Dawson: Moved from Northampton to Wasps before retiring in May 2006. In the same year came second to Mark Ramprakash in the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and triumphed in Celebrity Masterchef. In 2007 joined Radio Five Live as rugby commentator and presenter. Currently on UKTV Food, catching and cooking fish.

1 Trevor Woodman: Moved to Sale from Gloucester in 2004 but forced to retire in 2005 after a back injury sustained in training. Left England for Australia where he is working as a scrummaging coach at Sydney University. According to Wales coach Shaun Edwards, likely to be employed as adviser to Wallabies in the future.

2 Steve Thompson: Like Ben Cohen, plays his rugby with French club Brive. Thompson retired in April 2007 on medical advice after damaging his spinal chord in a tackle. Subsequently passed fit, he returned his £500, 000 insurance payout and has started four games in the French championship. Hopes to regain his England spot.

Phil Vickery: The move from Gloucester to Wasps led to a Heineken Cup winner’s medal. Off the pitch is involved in a leisurewear company, selling Raging Bull gear for men, and Moody Cow garments for women. Captained England under Brian Ashton and the only member of the 2003 World Cup final side to have played against Australia on Saturday.

4 Martin Johnson: Awarded a CBE in 2004, now part of the rugby establishment. Appointed England team manager in April 2008 and is also a member of the Professional Game Board, the body which regulates professional rugby in England. Has a commercial contract modelling clothes for Marks and Spencer and works with the NSPSS and Sparks, a children’s medical research charity.

5 Ben Kay: Still involved with Leicester and the only man to have played all 560 minutes of England’s 2007 World Cup campaign. In the summer of 2007 was trapped by flood water near Evesham and became part of the rescue operation, shunting cars around, shifting people and handing out his England kit to those who needed dry clothes.

6 Richard Hill: Carried on playing until May 2008 when a chronic knee problem ended his career. Now mentoring seven youngsters at Saracens two days a week and working as a business development manager on the other days. Voted on to the RFU Council in the summer. Also a trustee of the Saracens Sports Foundation which aims to change children’s lives through sport.

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk