Phil Vickery, the 2003 Rugby World Cup hero, was once a fearsome force on the field, tipping the scales close to 20 stone.
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Renowned for his prowess as a tighthead prop and formidable scrummager, Vickery was a brutal scrummager and a powerful ball carrier.
Fast forward 14 years since he hung up his boots, and Vickery is turning heads with a stunning body transformation. The belly from his playing days is long gone, and he’s now in the best shape of his life.
In a recent gym photo, the ex-England star flaunted his impressive physique, sharing the journey behind his transformation. “I had an idea over two years ago to be in the best shape of my life to celebrate 20 years on from winning the Rugby World Cup,” Vickery revealed.
He described the process as “an interesting journey full of highs and lows,” but emphasized his love for the experience and the support he received. He expressed gratitude to his mentors and supporters for their “friendship, positive energy and smiles and thumbs up at 5 o’clock in the morning doing cardio in the freezing cold.”
Vickery encouraged his followers with a motivational message: “Have an idea, get a plan and follow it through, team.”
This remarkable transformation comes over a decade after Vickery’s 2011 Celebrity Masterchef win, where judges praised his cooking as “very, very special” and noted his “serious” talent. Following his culinary triumph, he ventured into the restaurant business, founding ‘No.3’ in Cheltenham, which unfortunately closed after facing post-COVID challenges.
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:
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.