Lawrence Dallaglio, the former England rugby captain and 2003 World Cup winner, is selling several of his most significant rugby medals following financial difficulties linked to his recent divorce. The 54-year-old was declared bankrupt last year after he and his wife Alice ended their 20-year marriage.

Dallaglio, who earned 85 caps for England and played a key role in the team’s historic 2003 World Cup victory over Australia, sold his family home in Richmond, southwest London, for £2.4 million in May. The property had been valued at £3.3 million earlier in the year. The day after the sale, Dallaglio was officially declared bankrupt and required to use his share of the proceeds to cover a director’s loan of more than £366,500 linked to his sports company.

While bankruptcy restrictions typically last for 12 months, Dallaglio was granted an extension of three months in May, which was further extended last month by up to a year. Reports have indicated that although he earned approximately £200,000 between August and January, he continued to incur high personal expenses, including £1,000 monthly on clothing, £1,000 on travel, and £500 on alcohol, leaving little available to reduce his debts.

In light of these circumstances, Dallaglio is auctioning his collection of rugby memorabilia, which includes his 2003 World Cup winner’s medal valued between £50,000 and £80,000, and his 2007 World Cup runner-up medal, estimated at £10,000. Additionally, he is parting with several club medals from his time with London Wasps, where he captained the team to two European cups and three Premiership titles. These are expected to fetch around £8,000 each. His British and Irish Lions cap is valued at £5,500, while his England cap might reach £5,000. The total collection is anticipated to raise around £180,000 during the auction scheduled for October 13 at Budds in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

The auctioneer described the 2003 World Cup medal as “the pinnacle of world rugby and the singular greatest achievement in English rugby history.” Dallaglio, reflecting on his financial situation during a recent podcast, acknowledged the impact of his divorce on his finances, stating, “I had some financial problems – I could’ve done things a lot better.”

Dallaglio made his international debut in 1995 and retired from international rugby in 2007. He subsequently captained Wasps to the Premiership title in the 2007-2008 season before retiring from professional play. In recent years, he has taken on work as a rugby pundit.