Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio is putting his 2003 Rugby World Cup winner's medal up for sale at an auction next month, the Telegraph reports. The 54-year-old, who was declared bankrupt last year owing hundreds of thousands of pounds in tax, has listed the medal with an estimated value of £50,000-£80,000.
Financial troubles and suspended discharge
Earlier this summer, Dallaglio's bankruptcy terms were extended by a judge. Following an application made to the High Court by the joint trustee of his bankruptcy, the Wasps legend's discharge was suspended. Confirming the development, the former forward said: "This was agreed by mutual consent while I continue to work with my trustee in bankruptcy in dealing with my estate."
Documents filed to Companies House last year showed that the former No. 8 owed £423,570 in overdrawn director's loans for his now-bust firm Lawrence Dallaglio Limited, as well as more than £60,000 to liquidators. Claims totalling around £350,000 and £61,000 had also been made, respectively, by HM Revenue & Customs and two other creditors.
Other memorabilia also for sale
Dallaglio has also put other medals from his career up for sale, including his 2007 World Cup runners-up medal, valued at £10,000, his 2003 Six Nations winner's medal, listed at £5,000, and those from his time with Wasps (£8,000 each). He is also selling his British & Irish Lions cap at £5,500 at the auction, which will be held on October 13.
Auctioneer Budds said of 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 struggles revealed
Earlier this month, Dallaglio appeared on Jake Humphrey's The High Performance Podcast, where he opened up on the personal struggles he has faced, including losing 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."
He added: "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."
Dallaglio continued: "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."
He reflected: "Whenever I've 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."
