Bankrupt former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio is selling his 2003 World Cup-winning medal at an auction next month. The 54-year-old, who was reportedly earning £240,000 a year in his prime and had a net worth of £5 million, was declared bankrupt last year.
Bankruptcy terms extended
Dallaglio's bankruptcy terms were extended earlier in the summer after an application made to the High Court, where the former forward's discharge was suspended. He had narrowly avoided bankruptcy two years prior after agreeing to settle debts, including a £700,000 tax bill.
The most recent insolvency hearing in 2025 was reportedly initiated by his ex-wife's application for an order to sell the couple's London mansion for £2.7 million. The property eventually sold for £2.4 million, £900,000 below the original asking price.
Debts revealed
Documents submitted to Companies House last year revealed that the former No. 8 owed £423,570 in overdrawn director's loans relating to his now-defunct firm Lawrence Dallaglio Limited, along with more than £60,000 owed to liquidators. Claims totalling approximately £350,000 and £61,000 had additionally been lodged by HM Revenue and Customs and two further creditors, respectively.
The Telegraph now reports that Dallaglio has placed his 2003 World Cup-winning medal up for auction next month, as he continues to grapple with his financial difficulties. The coveted medal has been given an estimated value of between £50,000 and £80,000, according to the publication.
Other memorabilia for sale
Dallaglio is also auctioning other medals from his career, including his 2007 World Cup runners-up medal, estimated at £10,000, his 2003 Six Nations winner's medal, priced at £5,000 and those from his stint with Wasps (£8,000 each). He is additionally selling his British and Irish Lions cap for £5,500 at the auction, scheduled for October 13.
Auctioneer Budds commented on the World Cup winner's medal: "It was presented to Dallaglio on November 22, 2003 in Sydney, following victory in the Rugby World Cup Final against host nation Australia. England defeated Australia 20-17 after extra time. It was the pinnacle of world rugby and the singular greatest achievement in English rugby history."
Personal challenges
Earlier this month, Dallaglio featured on Jake Humphrey's The High Performance Podcast, where he discussed personal challenges, including the loss of his sister at a young age. "My life story is no different to a lot of other people's," he said. "It's full of ups and downs. Success is not an upward trajectory that just continues to rise and rise. There's going to be some changes in direction.
"I had a traumatic and seismic start with losing my sister, obviously quite early on in the life story at the age of 16, she was 19. That wasn't in the plan.
"After that, my career was full of highs, lows, injuries, all sorts of personal battles, but I had a pretty good run up to the age of about 50 - don't mention the F-word. Things obviously in the last couple of years have unravelled a little bit, and you've got to take some responsibility for that.
"In the last couple of years, I've got divorced and as a result of getting divorced, I was made bankrupt, so I had some financial problems. I lost my father last year at the age of 91 as well. So, a bit like London buses, things have come definitely two or three at a time, but it's OK."
Dallaglio added: "Whenever I've have faced adversity or problems or setbacks or difficulties, whether they're personal or professional or a mixture of both, I think the first place to look is at yourself. I probably was guilty of withdrawing back into my little shell and going a little bit into hibernation. But I think for someone who says a lot all the time, it was probably no bad thing for me to just take what's happened on the chin a little bit and sit back and reflect."
