Former\u00a0A Question of Sport\u00a0captain Matt Dawson announced in 2020 that he and wife Carolin Hauskeller had separated after 11 years of marriage. <\/p>\n
The rugby star took to social media, stating that their relationship had \u201ctaken a different path.\u201d Despite the split, Dawson assured fans that they remain committed to co-parenting their two sons, Alex and Sami, and will continue to support each other as friends.<\/p>\n
Announcing their split, Matt wrote on social media:\u00a0\u2018We know this will be a surprise to most but after 11 years together Carolin and I have decided our relationship needs a new direction, bringing our marriage to an end.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018The love for our beautiful boys grows stronger day by day as does our friendship as co-parents.<\/p>\n
Join the\u00a0RUCK\u2019s WhatsApp community here<\/a>\u00a0and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.<\/p>\n \u2018To our dear friends please continue to support us as positively as you can for the next stage of our lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s vital that Alex and Sami understand that we will always be a united family.\u2019<\/p>\n Matt Dawson: Rugby World Cup-winner<\/p>\n Dawson is a celebrated English rugby union player renowned for his agility and tactical prowess as a scrum-half. Born in 1972, Dawson earned 77 caps for England between 1996 and 2005. <\/p>\n He was a key figure in England\u2019s 2003 Rugby World Cup victory, known for his sharp decision-making and leadership on the field. Dawson also played for Northampton Saints and the British & Irish Lions. <\/p>\n Post-retirement, he has become a popular rugby pundit and television personality, sharing his deep knowledge of the game and passion for rugby with fans worldwide.<\/p>\n A Premier Signing: Sami Joins Brentford<\/p>\n In a proud moment for the family, Dawson\u2019s son Sami recently signed with Premier League club Brentford. <\/p>\n This achievement is especially significant given Sami\u2019s remarkable recovery from bacterial meningitis as a toddler. Diagnosed at just two years old, the illness left the Dawson family grappling with an uncertain future.<\/p>\n \u201cTackle Meningitis\u201d: Dawson\u2019s Campaign for Awareness<\/p>\n Following Sami\u2019s recovery, Dawson has dedicated much of his time to raising awareness about meningitis. Partnering with GSK\u2019s Tackle Meningitis campaign, he\u2019s used his platform to educate others about the dangers of the illness. <\/p>\n Reflecting on that challenging time, Dawson described the harrowing experience of watching Sami in an induced coma, where the outcome was far from clear.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have the immediate worry and not knowing what\u2019s around the corner,\u201d Dawson shared. \u201cIt was mentally tough, but we\u2019re some of the lucky few.\u201d<\/p>\n Life After the Split: Dawson Moves On<\/p>\n Since his separation from Hauskeller, Dawson has found new love with personal trainer and social media influencer Elizabeth Kelly. <\/p>\n Known for her motivational posts, Kelly\u2019s Instagram bio reads: \u201cThere is no passion to be found playing small \u2013 in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.\u201d<\/p>\n EDITORS PICKS:<\/p>\n On this day 10 years ago, England snatched the Rugby World Cup on Aussie soil. Let\u2019s dive into what those legends got up to since lifting the Webb Ellis.<\/p>\n 15. Josh Lewsey \u2013 The Everest Attempting Ex-Soldier<\/p>\n Full-back Lewsey was a British Army officer before turning pro rugby after just two years of service. When he hung up his boots in 2009, whispers floated he might return to the forces. Instead, he aimed higher\u2014literally\u2014attempting Everest, but a faulty oxygen apparatus stopped him 500 feet from the summit. Afterward, he jumped into finance at PwC and CitiGroup. But the rugby bug bit again, and in 2023 he returned as acting CEO of the Cornish Pirates before becoming Welsh Rugby Union\u2019s Head of Rugby. Fun fact: He\u2019s half Welsh, so this return was kind of homecoming.<\/p>\n 14. Jason Robinson \u2013 Wing Wizard & Sheep Farmer?<\/p>\n Robinson, cross-code star and scorer of England\u2019s sole try in the final, retired from rugby union in 2007 but never quite stepped off the pitch scene. He coached for the Rugby Football League and Sale Sharks, dabbled in sheep farming (yes, seriously), and even returned briefly to playing with a local team. These days he\u2019s focused on his own high-performance sports apparel line, \u2018Proskins.\u2019 Versatile on and off the field!<\/p>\n 13. Will Greenwood \u2013 Inside Centre with a Media Makeover<\/p>\n Retiring in 2006, Greenwood has arguably enjoyed a second career in the media spotlight. He writes columns, analyses games on TV, appears in adverts, and is a popular figure on the after-dinner circuit. But his biggest claim to fame now? Hosting\u00a0School of Hard Knocks\u00a0on Sky Sports, a show tackling social inclusion by using rugby to inspire youth in deprived areas.<\/p>\n 12. Mike Tindall \u2013 Royalty, Rugby, and Rowdiness<\/p>\n Tindall\u2019s best known to the general public as Princess Zara Phillips\u2019 husband, but he\u2019s still very much in the game, playing for Gloucester and coaching youngsters. His England career ended post-2011 World Cup\u2014marred by controversy after being fined \u00a315,000 for throwing a dwarf in a bar (a bizarre incident dubbed \u2018dwarf-gate\u2019). He now co-hosts the very successful The Good, The Bad and The Rugby Podcast.<\/p>\n 11. Ben Cohen \u2013 The 6\u20192\u201d Gay Icon & Dancing Star<\/p>\n Retired in 2023, Cohen had already founded the\u00a0Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation\u00a0to fight bullying, focusing heavily on combating homophobic abuse. His advocacy has earned him \u2018Ally of the Year\u2019 from gay magazine\u00a0Attitude\u2014pretty impressive for a 6\u20192\u201d ex-winger! He\u2019s also a fan favorite on\u00a0Strictly Come Dancing, proving his moves aren\u2019t limited to the rugby pitch.<\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE 2<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n