Former rugby player Gary Lavin has completed a remarkable journey from seeing his sporting dreams ended by injury to selling the drinks company he founded for £64million.
Lavin founded health and wellness drinks brand VitHit in 2000 after being forced to give up rugby because of a serious knee injury in his early 20s.
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More than 25 years later, the company has agreed a £64m sale to drinks group Nichols, with Lavin set to step away from the business once the deal is completed.
Lavin served as chairman and owned more than 70 per cent of VitHit.
The company generated £22.8m in revenue last year, with around 40 per cent of sales coming from the UK and another 40 per cent from Ireland.
What did Gary Lavin say about the sale?
Reflecting on the deal, Lavin said: “Since launching VitHit more than 25 years ago, our ambition has always been to build a distinctive health and wellness drinks brand with broad consumer appeal.
“We are proud of what the team has achieved and consider Nichols the ideal partner to support the next stage of the brand’s development.”
Nichols chief executive Andrew Milne believes there is considerable potential to grow the brand further.
He said VitHit had “significant headroom for growth” and added: “Nichols is ideally placed to accelerate VitHit’s development through our commercial capabilities, customer relationships, route-to-market expertise and international infrastructure.
“A significant opportunity exists to expand distribution across the group’s existing customer base.”
Rugby dream ended by injury
The story behind VitHit can be traced directly back to Lavin’s rugby career.
As a young player, he harboured ambitions of representing Ireland before a knee injury forced him to walk away from the sport.
That setback ultimately helped put him on the path towards creating VitHit as a healthier alternative to the sugary sports drinks available at the time.
Speaking in 2019, Lavin admitted: “There is no such thing as a happy injury, but I have to say things turned out pretty well.
“Nevertheless, as a rugby player in my early twenties, all I wanted was to play rugby for Ireland and become a superstar.
“While I might only have ever been a journeyman, the inherent confidence of the rugby player within was shattered.”
The 20 Highest-Paid Rugby Players in the World in 2026
Exact figures are rarely disclosed, particularly in Japan and South Africa, so every amount should be treated as an informed estimate rather than a confirmed salary.
20. Manie Libbok – Hanazono Kintetsu Liners
Estimated salary: £500,000 per year
Libbok secured the biggest contract of his career by moving from the Stormers to Japan. The Springbok fly-half’s creativity, pace and attacking instincts make him one of the Liners’ headline overseas signings.
19. Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Bègles)
Estimated salary: £500,000–£600,000
The reigning World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year has become one of the sport’s biggest stars. Bordeaux-Bègles moved quickly to secure the winger on an improved long-term contract after his remarkable rise, making him one of the best-paid young players in world rugby.
18. George Ford – Sale Sharks
Estimated salary: £500,000–£550,000 per year
Ford remains one of the PREM’s best-paid playmakers. The England fly-half is central to Sale’s ambitions and commands a premium because of his tactical control, experience and elite goal-kicking.
17. Marcus Smith – Harlequins
Estimated salary: £500,000–£550,000 per year
The face of Harlequins continues to be one of English rugby’s most marketable players. Smith’s club contract, combined with his England enhanced deal, places him close to the global top 20.
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16. Lood de Jager – Saitama Wild Knights
Estimated salary: £525,000–£600,000 per year
The towering Springbok lock remains a highly prized figure in Japan. His lineout expertise, physicality and vast Test experience make him one of Saitama’s most important overseas players.
15. Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Estimated salary: £600,000–£685,000 per year
Farrell remains one of rugby’s biggest earners despite returning to Saracens after just one season in France. His Racing 92 deal was reported to be worth around £685,000 per year, and although his current contract is believed to be lower, the England great is still among the Premiership’s highest-paid players
