Vickery's journey from World Cup winner to bodybuilder at 50 — SkimNews
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- Phil Vickery, the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning prop, competed in a bodybuilding show at the Physical Culture Show in Hull at age 50 after a challenge from friend Lee Powell, with support from trainer Dave Campbell
- Vickery won 73 caps for England and 5 for the British and Irish Lions, and also won Celebrity MasterChef during a post-playing career that included business ventures
- Vickery has received a probable CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) diagnosis and is part of a continuing litigation battle, saying the gym has become a crucial space for his mental health
- On stage in Hull, Vickery weighed about 99kg, far lighter than his playing weight of 118-135kg, and posed to the strains of the World Cup anthem "World in Union"
- Vickery's current training involves three to four weight sessions per week, daily fasting-cardio walks, and a protein-rich diet
- Vickery posts regularly on social media about health and fitness but rejects the "influencer" label, saying "We are all influencers" and urging people to "get out, do something, make a plan"
Why it matters: Vickery's public CTE diagnosis and ongoing litigation add a heavyweight name to the rugby union concussion conversation, while his bodybuilding reinvention at 50 offers a rare visible blueprint for ex-elite athletes managing broken bodies and minds after retirement.
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