Phil Vickery, the 2003 World Cup-winning front-rower, has stepped off the pitch and into a new ring — competitive bodybuilding.
At 48, Vickery isn’t just maintaining his fitness; he’s sculpted a whole new physique, and he’s got the medal to prove it.
Last month, he took to the Ultimate Physiques stage in Milton Keynes, Bucks, to show off his hard work, snapping up a medal and proudly posting his shredded results for fans.
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MasterChef to Muscle: Training Tales from the ‘Bull’
Vickery, known as the “Raging Bull” on the rugby field and the MasterChef winner’s kitchen, spent months sweating it out at Gloucester’s Severnside Gym.
He committed to an intense workout and meal plan to mark the 20th anniversary of England’s World Cup win, enduring ice-cold, crack-of-dawn sessions. His followers have seen the highs and lows of his journey, as he shared snaps and stories along the way.
Behind the Transformation: Financial Turmoil Hits the Raging Bull
But it hasn’t all been high reps and protein shakes. Earlier this year, Vickery filed for bankruptcy, citing debts with HMRC and Vix Limited, his management consultancy.
According to filings, he owed his own company £97,806, while his consultancy and three other businesses he stepped away from also faced financial strain.
Vickery’s journey from director to bodybuilder has been a rollercoaster, but his focus on fitness shows he’s still fighting his own battles with bulldog tenacity.
What the 2003 Rugby World Cup heroes look like now, some are very different
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.
