The two-time tourist saw his weight balloon to 24 stone before undergoing a remarkable transformation
Vickery represented the British & Irish Lions on two tours
A formidable tighthead prop and brutal scrummager, England and British & Irish Lions star Phil Vickery was, at his heaviest during his playing career, knocking on the door of 20 stone.
Given the nickname ‘Raging Bull’ by teammates and supporters, he admitted himself that he started out on his rugby journey as a ‘fat boy’ before going on to reach the very top of the game, as he lifted the Rugby World Cup with England in 2003 before captaining his country as they reached the final at the next tournament four years later.
But, 16 years on from the second of two Lions tours he played on, Vickery has a striking new look, having undergone a drastic body transformation since hanging up his boots in 2010. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
The 49-year-old, who represented both Gloucester and Wasps at club level, was inspired to get in shape ahead of the 20th anniversary of England’s World Cup win in 2023 and undertook a strict diet and exercise plan that has had remarkable results.
Having ballooned to 24 stone after retiring, Vickery has shed a remarkable six stone to transform himself from being an overweight former prop to being completely ripped, with the 73-cap international now boasting a chiselled torso and huge biceps
“It’s been an interesting journey full of highs and lows,” he told his Instagram followers as she showed off his new look ahead of the 2023 World Cup. “[I] have loved the process, but more importantly the people who have helped along the way. Have an idea, get a plan and follow it through, team”.
Vickery’s fitness journey inspired him to take things to the next level and try out bodybuilding, and his hard work paid off as he won a medal at the UK Ultimate Physiques British Open Championships in Milton Keynes.
Vickery competing at the UK Ultimate Physiques British Open Championships in September(Image: Instagram: @adbarnes00)
Having piled on the fake tan and slipped into a tiny pair of trunks, the former prop looked worlds away from his playing days, but admitted he had felt similarities between his new venture and his past career.
“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 also admitted that having a new pursuit to focus on had been invaluable during a difficult time in his life, having gone through a divorce and filed for bankruptcy.
(Image: Instagram: @philvickery3)
In December, he also revealed that he had been diagnosed with probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), with scans confirming the brain injury. The two-time Lions tourist, who experiences some memory issues, has since joined the class-action concussion lawsuit against World Rugby, the RFU and Welsh Rugby Union.
“Going through divorce, somebody said, ‘Don’t let drink become your friend’ and that really spooked me,” said Vickery as he reflected on a difficult time in his life. “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.”
As for his body transformation, he added: “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,” he continued. “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.”