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Rugby World Cup winner's dramatic body transformation as star reveals devastating news

Vickery (right) has transformed his body over the last two years
-Credit: (Image: Instagram: @adbarnes00)


Former England and British & Irish Lions star Phil Vickery has explained how turning to bodybuilding has helped him through the most difficult time of his life, as he revealed some devastating news.

The 48-year-old has undergone an incredible body transformation in recent years, shedding a remarkable six stone as he went from an overweight former prop to a ripped, bronzed bodybuilder. Vickery, a 2003 World Cup winner with England, now boasts a chiselled torso and huge biceps after undergoing a strict diet and exercise plan.

He had been inspired to get himself in shape ahead of the 20th anniversary of England's World Cup win, with his hard work paying off earlier this year as he won a medal at the UK Ultimate Physiques British Open Championships in Milton Keynes.

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Having recently been reunited with his 2003 team-mates - many of whom, like him, have struggled with life after retiring from rugby - Vickery has been reflecting on how his new pursuit has helped him through a a number of difficulties in his personal life. After going through a divorce and filing for bankruptcy over this year, having a new focus has been invaluable.

"Whatever else is going out in the rest of the world is totally irrelevant when you walk through those gym doors," he told the Mail. "I needed a challenge, something outside my comfort zone, and I thought shall I do a bodybuilding show? I was placed third.

"My genetics are crap, I'm not made to be a bodybuilder, but I loved the process. The pain and the hurt and the suffering to get on stage. When you look someone in the eye who has gone through that you think, 'F***ing respect'. It's similar to when I look at another rugby player, 'You're hurt, come here bud, well done'."

Vickery competing at the UK Ultimate Physiques British Open Championships in September
Vickery competing at the UK Ultimate Physiques British Open Championships in September -Credit:Instagram: @adbarnes00

He added: "Going through divorce, somebody said, 'Don't let drink become your friend' and that really spooked me. I could quite easily see how I could fall into that, so I consciously stayed away from it. Bodybuilding was a good excuse, that final prep, because you're super clean.

"Covid, the restaurant, bankruptcy, divorce… is it the lowest point of your life? Of course it is. It's your own integrity. It's Phil Vickery; honesty, integrity, passion, pride… but you've failed. You can keep playing a game, telling yourself you'll make it work. In the end, it caught up with me."

Reflecting on how his weight had ballooned after retiring, Vickery continued: "I really struggled with the gym after rugby because I had always trained with a purpose. I enjoy cycling but if I've had three neck operations so I can't spend more than an hour on a bike.

"Suddenly you get a little bit bigger and a little bit rounder. Another year, another half a stone. Before I knew it, I was 24 stone. A big whopper. You're thinking, "F***ing hell, my knees hurt, my ankles hurt, my shoulders hurt. F***ing hell, Phil, come on".

"I'm 18 stone now. It took me a long time to understand that I need to go to the gym for my own wellbeing, be it physical health or mental health."

The former tighthead prop said his weight ballooned after retiring from rugby
The former tighthead prop said his weight ballooned after retiring from rugby -Credit:Surrey Mirror

Vickery's body transformation comes as he opened up about a devastating diagnosis, having been told he has probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), with scans confirming the brain injury. The former prop now experiences some memory issues, but says he is "not angry [or] bitter" towards the game.

“I kind of knew before I’d even had the scan done,” he told the Times. “I said that to the guy: ‘I know something’s wrong with me’. I didn’t want to do anything about it.”

Explaining why he joined the class-action concussion lawsuit against World Rugby, the RFU and Welsh Rugby Union, Vickery added that he wanted to “secure my future for people who will be there to look after me”.

“I don’t think that’s unreasonable,” he continued. “You know the classic response: ‘You knew what you signed up to’. Well, OK. I didn’t. I don’t remember talking about getting brain damage.

“It’s not about hanging the game out, it’s just about, ‘Right, so the reality is I could possibly be, in a few years’ time, not in a very good way, and will need help and care’."