Martin Johnson remains a household name, celebrated for his illustrious rugby career, built on determination and passion both on and off the field. His leadership and achievements have earned him a place among the sport’s greats, but his legacy now reaches far beyond the rugby pitch.
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A Legacy Cemented with World Cup Glory
Best known for leading England to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Johnson’s influence extends well beyond this single triumph. Among rugby enthusiasts, he holds the distinct honor of being one of the few players to have captained the British and Irish Lions on multiple tours, a testament to his exceptional leadership and sporting prowess.
A New Mission: Saving Lives Through Awareness
In recent years, Johnson has channeled his dedication into a cause close to his heart. Since becoming a patron of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT), he has shifted his focus from lighting up lives on the field to helping save lives off it. His involvement with JHMT, which raises awareness about sudden heart issues, has inspired him to advocate for CPR training.
Johnson passionately highlights the importance of preparation: “If you have someone on the floor who has collapsed with no pulse, what are you going to do? You may think ‘it won’t happen to me’, but if it does, and you haven’t done any training, you will have to live with that forever.”
Urging Coaches to Get Trained
Johnson is particularly keen to encourage rugby coaches to take up UK Coaching’s online course, which equips them with essential life-saving skills. He emphasizes how crucial this training is in emergencies, urging coaches to be prepared:
“You’ll know what to do and that you’re giving that person the best chance of survival.”
He acknowledges the inevitable shock that comes with being faced with such a situation but insists that training allows people to act instinctively:
“If you’ve had training, you go into autopilot. You remember the steps you’ve been taught and jump straight into action.”
Personal Experience Shapes His Advocacy
Johnson’s dedication to CPR training stems from personal experience. A few years ago, his neighbor suffered a heart attack. Johnson and his wife, who were first on the scene, administered CPR while a friend fetched the village’s Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Despite their best efforts, the post-mortem revealed that their neighbor’s death was due to heart disease rather than a cardiac arrest.
Though nothing could have saved him, Johnson reflects on the importance of having done everything they could:
“The thought of just standing there and doing nothing is horrendous. It was horrific anyway. But at least you know you have done everything you can.”
Johnson remains grateful for the CPR training both he and his wife received through the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, acknowledging how it prepared them to face that challenging moment.
Anyone can access the material for free by registering at www.ukcoaching.org/sca
What England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup heroes look like now, some are very different
They have gone on to lead different lives but, for one night late last year, they reunited to remember that famous day in Sydney.
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.