Famous British Rugby Players

Paddy Mayne was not just a British Army lieutenant colonel but also a legendary rugby player who had represented both Ireland and the British Lions. He was also known for his reckless behavior, including his drunken brawls. He was part of a huge debate after being denied the Victoria Cross.

Bill Beaumont is a former rugby player who was the captain of the England rugby union team. He played as a lock and earned 34 caps, then a record for a lock. The unexpected 1980 Grand Slam achieved by his team under his captaincy is considered the highest point in his career. He is currently the chairman of World Rugby.   

Paul Sampson is an English rugby union and rugby league player. He became interested in different sports as a child and won the England Schools 100 meters title in 1996. He soon joined the England rugby squad while still a school student and won his first England cap against South Africa in 1998. Rugby player, Dean Sampson, is his cousin.  

Phil Vickery is a former English rugby union player and member of the England squad. He played as a tighthead prop and was a member of England's World Cup-winning squad in 2003. After suffering from several neck injuries, he was forced to retire from rugby in 2010. In 2015, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire. 

Jamaican-born British boxer Gary Mason had a 10-year career, with only 1 loss. The heavyweight boxer had a short rugby career too and was also interested in soccer. He died in a tragic crash with a van while cycling in a south London at age 48.

Rugby player Tyrese Johnson-Fisher was 15 when he became an overnight sensation after a video of him playing for Oakham School became viral. The Coastal Carolina football scholar was also the first non-American to be invited to the All-American game for hopefuls in American football, although he never played the game.