Lawrence Dallaglio confronts financial ruin after bankruptcy
Lawrence Dallaglio, the former England rugby captain who lifted the World Cup trophy in 2003, now confronts financial devastation after fresh company documents revealed debts approaching half a million pounds, reports BritPanorama.
The 53-year-old back row forward was declared bankrupt earlier this year following the breakdown of his marriage to Alice, his wife of nearly two decades, amid allegations of unfaithfulness from both parties.
Newly filed paperwork indicates Dallaglio owes £423,570 in overdrawn director’s loans related to his defunct business, Lawrence Dallaglio Ltd. Additionally, he faces liabilities exceeding £60,000 to liquidators, despite their appointment more than two years ago.
His business also has outstanding obligations of approximately £350,000 to HMRC, alongside £61,000 owed to two further creditors. The repayment of his director’s loan is anticipated to contribute towards addressing the substantial tax liability.
The couple parted with their £2.7 million Richmond residence this May, with Dallaglio agreeing that his portion of the proceeds would be directed towards settling his loan obligations. Initially, he anticipated receiving £3.3 million from the sale of the four-bedroom property, which had been the family home for nearly 25 years after he purchased it for £925,000 in 2001.
The desperation of his financial situation compelled a sale at a reduced price, leaving him with a £600,000 shortfall from his expectations. A Premier League footballer reportedly acquired the property.
An insolvency court hearing earlier this month revealed that the equity remaining in the home amounted to only around £1.2 million. Alice sought an urgent order permitting the immediate sale of the property to prevent her estranged husband’s financial collapse, although this effort ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Dallaglio’s financial struggles stand in stark contrast to his remarkable achievements on the pitch, where he is celebrated as one of England’s greatest players, earning 85 caps and participating in three British and Irish Lions tours during an illustrious career spent entirely at Wasps.
His crowning achievement came in Sydney when England claimed the Rugby World Cup in 2003, defeating Australia in a memorable final. He captained his country multiple times and received both an MBE and an OBE for his services to sport, with the latter honour awarded in 2008. Since retiring in 2008, Dallaglio has worked as a television and radio pundit and as an after-dinner speaker, forming the Dallaglio RugbyWorks charity following the death of his mother, Eileen, from cancer in the same year.
The marriage between Dallaglio and Alice, sealed in a romantic Lake Como ceremony in 2005 after a decade of courtship, produced three children: son Enzo and daughters Ella and Josie. Their relationship faced multiple challenges over the years, including past allegations of wild behaviour and infidelity from both sides.
Alice’s mother, Lydia Corbett, who has ties to the late artist Pablo Picasso, expressed sadness regarding the separation, commenting on the painful nature of divorce. The couple’s divorce was finalized earlier this year at the Central Family Court in Holborn.
In a world where sporting success often intersects with personal turmoil, Dallaglio serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities athletes face off the field, revealing that achievement does not shield against life’s harsh realities.
