Rugby legend Jason Robinson has revealed he once considered suicide after being arrested on charges of disorder, assault and criminal damage early in his tumultuous playing career.
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Robinson, who famously scored in England’s victory over Australia in the 2003 World Cup final and toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2001 and 2005, said the incident happened during a period of heavy drinking in his early years with rugby league club Wigan Warriors.
Robinson said he had considered taking his own life but was drawn to Christianity through the life and testimony of his late friend and Wigan team-mate, Vaiga Tuigamala.
“I remember sitting in my bedroom with an old knife, an old butcher knife,” Robinson recalled in the Sports Life Stories series documentary.
“I didn’t want my life to continue like this. That night when I thought about it, I cried like a baby. Of all the times in my life I probably needed my father more than any other time.”
His life changed for the better after Tuigamala influenced him to embrace Christianity. “Without him, I wouldn’t have had the hope that I have now because I went into the environment that I was in and had a different perspective,” Robinson added. “And hope is something that can’t be taken away from you.”
“The reason I became a Christian is because I’m not perfect, I need help, and I can’t do it on my own,” he explained, adding: “No matter how strong or weak I am, I always go back to where I started, and that’s faith in Christ.”
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England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup heroes look very different now.
Sir Clive Woodward’s England side won their first and so far only William Webb Ellis Trophy in 2003, thanks to a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal in extra time.
Woodward’s team remain the only northern hemisphere team to have won the World Cup, with South Africa (four), New Zealand (three) and Australia (twice) having won the other nine tournaments.
“It’s great to be reunited with the team after 20 years,” Wilkinson, who scored a vital drop goal with 28 seconds to go, said in a video posted to England Rugby’s Instagram account.
“It’s great to meet everyone and see what everyone’s done. But also, I think it’s great to see why we were able to do what we did 20 years ago, because it still lives on in all of us.”
Let’s take a look at where the major players stand today.
Phil Vickery
Former Gloucester and London Wasps prop Phil Vickery announced his retirement at the end of the 2010 Premiership season. A two-time British and Irish Lion, he was a respected opponent around the world and later launched a successful clothing brand called Raging Bull, named after his on-field nickname. Vickery was forced into retirement due to continuing neck injuries and took up the role of scrum coach at Worcester Warriors in 2012.
Vickery has also ventured into sports broadcasting and was part of the commentary team for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2011. He has also appeared on various TV programmes, including Celebrity Masterchef, which he won in 2011. A perennial Kingsholm Stadium fan, Vickery was appointed Lieutenant of Gloucestershire in 2015.
Jonny Wilkinson
Best known for his iconic drop goal that won Australia the 2003 final, Wilkinson has since retired and turned to coaching with Toulon, focusing on kicking and skills development, and currently works as an ITV Sport commentator for Rugby World Cups and Six Nations.
Will Greenwood
Greenwood continued to excel on the international stage after his 2003 triumph, representing New Zealand on the British and Irish Lions tour in 2005. He finished his Harlequins career in 2006 and was soon offering his opinion through analysis and commentary. He co-hosted the television series School of Hard Knocks with former Wales international Scott Quinnell and was an on-screen pundit for ITV during England’s run to the 2007 Rugby World Cup final.
Will is also exploring opportunities outside of rugby and is currently Chief Customer Officer for data and software company Affinity’s London branch. Greenwood’s family was hit by tragedy when his son Freddie died just 45 minutes after he was born. The former England centre undertook an emotional walk to the North Pole in memory of his son, raising more than £750,000 for Bourne research. Greenwood is also Patron of Bourne, a medical research charity working on cases of premature birth, and Child Bereavement UK, a charity that supports parents who have lost a child.