- Former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio has sold his 2003 Rugby World Cup winner’s medal for £54,000 (KSh 9.18 million) at auction following financial difficulties after his divorce
- The auction also featured other prized items from his career, including a Six Nations winners’ medal and a British and Irish Lions cap
- Dallaglio’s collection raised £100,500 (KSh 17.09 million), falling short of the pre-sale estimate of £180,000 (KSh 30.60 million)
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Former England rugby star Lawrence Dallaglio has sold some of the most treasured items from his sporting career, including his 2003 Rugby World Cup winner’s medal, at an auction following financial difficulties linked to his divorce.
Source: Getty Images
The medal, earned during England’s historic victory over Australia in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final in Sydney, fetched £54,000 (KSh 9.18 million) at Budds Auctioneers.
The 54-year-old former England captain’s memorabilia collection attracted interest from bidders, with several items from his decorated rugby career going under the hammer.
Rugby World Cup medal leads auction
Dallaglio’s 2003 World Cup winner’s medal was the standout item in the sale.
Other pieces included his 2003 Six Nations winners’ medal, which sold for £7,500 (KSh 1.28 million), and a British and Irish Lions cap, which fetched £11,000 (KSh 1.87 million).
The auction also featured domestic rugby medals and individual awards collected during his years as a professional player.
Despite the interest in the memorabilia, the collection did not reach its expected value. The items had a combined pre-sale estimate of £180,000 (KSh 30.60 million), but the final proceeds totalled £100,500 (KSh 17.09 million).
Dallaglio speaks about financial struggles
Dallaglio previously addressed his financial circumstances during a 2025 appearance on the High Performance Podcast.
Explaining the situation following his divorce, he said:
"As a result of getting divorced, I was made bankrupt. I had some financial problems — I could've done things a lot better."
His comments offered context for the sale of items that hold considerable significance for England rugby supporters as reported by Briefly News.
A defining career in English rugby
Dallaglio remains one of the prominent figures from England’s successful rugby era in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
He earned 85 caps for England between 1995 and 2007 and captained the national team on 22 occasions. He also toured with the British and Irish Lions three times, making three Test appearances.
His defining achievement came in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, when England defeated hosts Australia in Sydney to win the tournament. Playing at number eight, Dallaglio remained on the field for the full 80 minutes and extra time.
His career also included four Six Nations titles, won in 1996, 2000, 2001 and 2003. The 2003 championship was particularly significant because England completed a Grand Slam by winning all their matches.
The sale of his memorabilia marks a difficult chapter for the former captain, whose sporting achievements remain part of England’s rugby history.
Source: TUKO.co.ke