One of the stars of the 2003 Rugby World Cup has revealed how he’s now penniless and living in Fiji after squandering all his money on alcohol and handouts.
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Rupeni Caucaunibuca, who emerged from the tournament 16 years ago as one of the most sought-after players on the planet, signed lucrative deals to play in France.
But in 2019, he confessed in a short documentary called Oceans Apart for the Pacific Rugby Players’ Welfare organisation that all the money is gone, wasted on alcohol and handouts.
Speaking candidly about his career, Caucaunibuca, now 38, said: “I just used it for nothing. I spent it on drinking and helping people,” he admitted on Oceans Apart.
“I regret it. I should have kept a few hundred thousand for after rugby. But it’s too late, I’ve already spent it all, for nothing.”
“No-one taught me when I started,” he explained. “Straight from my village, I ended up a big rugby star.
“In one year, from my village to Suva, Suva to the Fiji team, and then New Zealand. No-one taught me to do this or do that.”
He continued: “At that time, nobody taught you how to spend your money. We didn’t think about life after rugby finished. We thought rugby would continue until… I don’t know. You don’t think it will come to an end. You don’t know what injuries you could have. I stopped because I had a lot of injuries.
“I spent my money on people who didn’t have it. People in the street. People without fathers, single mothers who needed help. Sometimes in France people are homeless in the street. I didn’t give them 100 dollars, sometimes I gave them 5,000 dollars. I gave it from my heart.
“Sometimes people are very kind to you on the outside but hate you on the inside. I didn’t want to have my chest puffed out, I just wanted to be humble because I grew up in the village, I knew the village ways, I struggled in the village. I don’t like living in the city. You can share food with your neighbours every day in the village, you can help each other, but in the city it is just you, no-one else. Everything is money.”
Watch the documentary here:
What England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup heroes look like now, some are very different
Sir Clive Woodward’s England lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy for the first – and so far only – time in 2003, after a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal in extra time.
Woodward’s side are still the only northern hemisphere side to win the World Cup, with the other nine tournaments won by South Africa (four), New Zealand (three) and Australia (two).
In a video posted by England Rugby’s Instagram account, Wilkinson – who scored the all important drop goal 28 seconds from time – said: ‘It’s great being back with all the guys from the squad 20 years on.
‘It’s great to be able to see everyone, and to get a feel of what everyone’s been up to, but also to I guess get a feel for why we were able to do what we did 20 years ago, because it still lives on in everyone.’
Take a look at how some of the key players look now:
Phil Vickery
A former Gloucester and London Wasps prop, Phil Vickery called time on his career at the end of the 2010 Premiership season. The two-time British & Irish Lion was a revered opponent across the world, and has since started a successful clothing brand ‘Raging Bull’, with his on-field nickname. Vickery was forced into retirement due to a series of neck injuries, and in 2012 he joined Worcester Warriors as their Scrum Coach.
Vickery has also tried his hand at sports broadcasting, as he was apart of the commentary team for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. His on-screen appearances have also been witnessed across a variety of TV shows, including ‘Celebrity MasterChef’, which he won in 2011. An eternal fan favourite at Kingsholm Stadium, Vickery was appointed the title of Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire in 2015.
Jonny Wilkinson
Renowned for his iconic drop-goal that secured victory against Australia in the 2003 final, Wilkinson transitioned into a coaching role with Toulon, focusing on kicking and skills development following his retirement. He also now works as a pundit for ITV Sport during Rugby World Cup’s and the Six Nations.
Will Greenwood
Greenwood continued to shine on the international stage following the 2003 glory, and went on to represent the British & Irish Lions for their 2005 tour to New Zealand. He ended his career at Harlequins in 2006, and soon gave his experienced views through analysis and punditry. Greenwood co-hosted the ‘School of Hard Knocks’ TV series with former Wales international Scott Quinnell, and was an on-screen analyst for ITV as England reached the final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Will has also explored opportunities away from rugby, and is the current Chief Customer Officer for data and software company Afiniti’s London office. Greenwood’s family was struck with tragedy, after his son Freddie died just 45 minutes after being born. The former England centre underwent an inspirational walk to the North Pole in memory of his son, and helped to raise over £750,000 for Borne’s research. Greenwood is a patron of Borne, who are a medical research charity that work with cases of premature birth. He is also a patron of Child Bereavement UK, which is a charity that support parents who have lost a child.