Former England rugby international Paul Sampson has revealed he was left homeless and sleeping in his car after losing £450,000 in a fraud. The 48-year-old, who was once married to TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher, said he was conned into investing in a defence start-up company in 2019.
Sampson made five payments totalling £450,000, selling a property, draining his savings and taking out a loan from his partner's parents. He was promised returns of £11,000 a month, but after initially receiving them, the payments stopped and the company's directors disappeared.
The former rugby star, who earned three caps for England, said he has been diagnosed with severe post-concussion syndrome (PPCS), which affects his memory and decision-making. He believes the fraudsters exploited his vulnerability. 'My brain gets overwhelmed and can't process situations,' he told The Times. 'It took me years to even realise I'd been a victim of a fraud.'
Sampson reported the fraud to Barclays in 2025, but his claim was rejected as it fell outside the six-year time limit. Barclays said it held four scam prevention conversations with him at the time of the payments, and he confirmed he wanted them to go through. The National Fraud Helpline has since asked Barclays and the Financial Ombudsman to review the case.
Sampson is now working 53 hours a week in a warehouse to rebuild his life. He is also among a group of former rugby players pursuing legal action against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union over brain injuries sustained during their careers. The governing bodies deny liability.
