Former England Captain Phil Vickery Declared Bankrupt
The rugby union world has been left saddened by the news that former England captain and World Cup winner Phil Vickery has been declared bankrupt. The ‘Raging Bull’, as he was affectionately known, has been forced to step down from several businesses as he struggles with his health and a grim financial situation.
Vickery, 48, is said to owe almost £100,000 to his management consultancy, Vix Ltd, which has gone into liquidation. The news comes on the heels of the closure of Vickery’s No 3 restaurants earlier this year, a casualty of the cost-of-living crisis that has hit the hospitality industry hard.
Adding to Vickery’s woes, it was revealed late last year that he had joined a group lawsuit against various rugby governing bodies on behalf of ex-players suffering from the long-term effects of repeated head injuries. Another member of that class action is Steve Thompson, the colossal hooker who was a hero of England’s 2003 World Cup triumph.
“The plight of these former greats raises difficult questions about how English rugby has supported its world-class players once their playing careers ended.”
While a handful are now involved in coaching or management roles, many others have drifted away into disparate careers, with limited involvement in the elite game.
“In hindsight, the players of Vickery and Thompson’s era may be seen as having participated in the period of greatest danger, as rugby had been powered-up by professionalism but had not yet fully grasped the spectre of concussion.”
Vickery was a true icon of the game, with standout performances for England and the British and Irish Lions. His thunderous contribution to England’s famous win over the All Blacks in 2003 is etched in the memories of rugby union fans. The hope is that he, and others like him, can find a way out of their current difficulties, with the rugby community rallying around to support them.
Other Rugby Union Updates
Elsewhere in the rugby union world, there were impressive performances in the women’s Six Nations, with Scotland pushing France hard in a narrow 15-5 defeat that highlighted the growing competitiveness of the tournament. In the Premiership, the Bristol Bears have burst into the play-off mix with a run of stunning results, underling the unpredictable and “bonkers” nature of the current season.
Looking ahead, the scheduling of the 2024-25 French Top 14 final presents an interesting opportunity for England’s Owen Farrell, who could potentially feature for the British and Irish Lions in their tour opener against Western Force, even if his club, Racing 92, reach the French showpiece.
In a separate incident, Bath have every right to be outraged after a sin-bin error in their match against Harlequins, where a Quins player was able to return to the field three minutes too early. The RFU has apologized, but such basic officiating errors are unacceptable at the professional level and undermine the integrity of the game.
As the rugby union world grapples with these diverse storylines, the passion and intensity of the sport remain palpable, captivating fans and connoisseurs alike.
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