Lawrence Dallaglio's 2003 World Cup winner's medal sells for £54,000 at bankruptcy memorabilia auction

Auction result for the 2003 winner's medal

Lawrence Dallaglio's 2003 Rugby World Cup winner's medal sold for £54,000 at auction on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, conducted by Budds in Wellington, Northamptonshire. The silver-gilt medal, presented after England's 20-17 extra-time victory over Australia in Sydney on November 22, 2003, carried a pre-sale estimate of £50,000 to £80,000 and was bought by an anonymous internet bidder at the lower end of that range.

Combined proceeds and unsold lots

The sale of 12 lots in the "Lawrence Dallaglio Collection" raised a combined £100,500, while 10 other pieces of memorabilia failed to sell. One account of the same event said 13 items sold for a combined £106,400, including a 1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens Final winner's medal for £1,100; the 2003 Six Nations winner's medal, reported separately as £7,500 (and £7,500 for a Six Nations Championship winner's medal); a 2004 Champions Cup Final winner's medal for £4,400; and the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final runner-up medal for £5,000. A Try of the Season sculpture award from 1999-2001 sold for £900 and a 1999 Union Cup Final winner's medal for £2,800.

Background of financial difficulties

Dallaglio, 54, was declared bankrupt last year following his divorce from his wife of almost 20 years, Alice, and was ordered to hand over his share of proceeds from the sale of the family home for £2.4 million in May last year. Documents filed at Companies House showed he owed £423,570 in overdrawn director's loans to his now-defunct company, Lawrence Dallaglio Limited, alongside more than £60,000 to liquidators; claims of around £350,000 were made by HM Revenue & Customs, with a further £61,000 claimed by two other creditors. Earlier in 2026, his discharge from bankruptcy was suspended until August 31 next year, with restrictions on him previously extended in May by a judge following an application by the joint trustee. Speaking on Jake Humphrey's High Performance podcast earlier this year, Dallaglio said he had "some financial problems" and that he "could've done things a lot better."

Career context of the medals sold

Dallaglio won 85 caps for England and was a central figure in Wasps' golden era, winning multiple domestic and European titles including the 2004 Heineken Cup. His 2003 medal is the piece he received after starting England's famous Rugby World Cup final victory over Australia in Sydney, secured by Jonny Wilkinson's extra-time drop goal — the only occasion England have lifted the Webb Ellis Cup. The 2007 runner-up medal he sold referenced England's 15-6 final loss to South Africa in Paris.