2003 Rugby World Cup reveals how he 'fought back from death' absolute nightmare

The renowned sportsman found himself blindsided by a trifecta of health woes - a perilous heart condition, septicemia, and glandular fever - leaving him laid low and racing to the emergency room.

"I've never flirted with the idea of meeting my maker," Ben shares candidly. "But when they tell you your weekend plans might have included a date with destiny had you not sought help, you're reminded of your own mortality."

The ordeal kicked off in June 2017 with agonizing chest pains, initially suspected to signal a heart attack, propelling Ben to the nearest A&E in Northampton. However, doctors pinpointed pericarditis, a debilitating inflammation enveloping the heart in a protective sac.

As if that weren't enough, a diagnosis of sepsis, a potentially fatal blood infection threatening multiple organ failure, further compounded Ben's health crisis. To add insult to injury, medical examinations unearthed glandular fever, the suspected culprit behind the preceding maladies - a condition that would ultimately wield the most profound impact on the rugby star's life.

"While the pericarditis and sepsis were swiftly addressed with a rigorous course of antibiotics," Ben recounts, "it was the glandular fever that truly tested my mettle. I'd have welcomed a beating compared to the relentless onslaught of this ailment. It was sheer brutality."

Glandular fever, an untreatable virus, unleashed a relentless assault on Ben's vitality, triggering debilitating symptoms like fever and swollen glands, coupled with an insidious fatigue that lingered for months on end.

"I endured two harrowing bouts of it," Ben reveals. "It faded away after about eight weeks initially, only to resurge with a vengeance in January. It hit me like a freight train."

The toll was profound, reducing the once indefatigable athlete to a shell of his former self. Simple tasks became monumental challenges, and even mundane activities like applying sunscreen on a family holiday proved Herculean feats.

"It was a battle just to summon the strength to get through the day," Ben admits. "I went from being a beacon of energy to a mere shadow of myself. It was a grueling ordeal."

The clouds of despair gradually parted in May, yet Ben acknowledges that his journey to recovery has been a protracted one, with the psychological toll akin to enduring a long-term injury.

"When I was on the field, sidelined by injury, I'd wrestle with frustration, itching to get back in the game," Ben reflects. "But with glandular fever, there's no bargaining. You're stripped of your vitality, left to grapple with an overwhelming sense of helplessness. I'm only just beginning to emerge from the shadows."

Take a look at how some of the key players look now:

A former Gloucester and London Wasps prop, Phil Vickery called time on his career at the end of the 2010 Premiership season. The two-time British & Irish Lion was a revered opponent across the world, and has since started a successful clothing brand 'Raging Bull', with his on-field nickname. Vickery was forced into retirement due to a series of neck injuries, and in 2012 he joined Worcester Warriors as their Scrum Coach.

Vickery has also tried his hand at sports broadcasting, as he was apart of the commentary team for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. His on-screen appearances have also been witnessed across a variety of TV shows, including 'Celebrity MasterChef', which he won in 2011. An eternal fan favourite at Kingsholm Stadium, Vickery was appointed the title of Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire in 2015.

Renowned for his iconic drop-goal that secured victory against Australia in the 2003 final, Wilkinson transitioned into a coaching role with Toulon, focusing on kicking and skills development following his retirement. He also now works as a pundit for ITV Sport during Rugby World Cup's and the Six Nations.

Greenwood continued to shine on the international stage following the 2003 glory, and went on to represent the British & Irish Lions for their 2005 tour to New Zealand. He ended his career at Harlequins in 2006, and soon gave his experienced views through analysis and punditry. Greenwood co-hosted the 'School of Hard Knocks' TV series with former Wales international Scott Quinnell, and was an on-screen analyst for ITV as England reached the final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Will has also explored opportunities away from rugby, and is the current Chief Customer Officer for data and software company Afiniti's London office. Greenwood's family was struck with tragedy, after his son Freddie died just 45 minutes after being born. The former England centre underwent an inspirational walk to the North Pole in memory of his son, and helped to raise over £750,000 for Borne's research. Greenwood is a patron of Borne, who are a medical research charity that work with cases of premature birth. He is also a patron of Child Bereavement UK, which is a charity that support parents who have lost a child.

Tindall, who earned an impressive 75 caps for England, held the distinction of being the final player from the 2003 squad to retire when he bid farewell to his playing career in 2014. Adding a touch of royalty to his life, he tied the knot with Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne, in 2011.

Since then, he's frequently spotted alongside royalty at various sporting events and public engagements, embodying a blend of athletic prowess and regal connections. He also presents The Good, The Bad, And The Rugby podcast.

Kay amassed 62 caps for England throughout his eight-year international career, retiring in the summer of 2010. Since then, he has contributed as an analyst for various prominent broadcasters and held a role as a non-executive director at Leicester Tigers from 2014 to 2021.

The openside flanker for England in 2003 transitioned to coaching roles post-retirement, notably at Leeds Carnegie and Rugby Lions. His tenure culminated in leading an undefeated 2011/12 season with Rugby Lions in the fifth tier, securing both a league title and cup victory. His last full-time coaching position was at Edinburgh, concluding in 2013.

Dallaglio has followed in the footsteps of Wilkinson and Dawson, becoming a well-known rugby pundit. He provided coverage for the Rugby World Cup on ITV in 2011.

Additionally, he is renowned for his philanthropic efforts, having founded the Lawrence Dallaglio Foundation. This organisation aims to empower young people through sport and supports teenage cancer trusts by raising funds.

Cohen ended his rugby career with Sale Sharks, having previously also represented Northampton Saints and French club Brive. An inspirational activist, the former winger founded The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation in 2011, which works on raising awareness regarding the impacts of bullying and implements “real-world work to stop it”. Cohen is an leading activist for LGBTQ+ rights, and in 2013 was inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame. 

Due to having a hearing issue called tinnitus, Cohen is clinically deaf. He lacks approxmiatly 30% of his hearing in both ears, and he is a campaigner for increased accessibility within rugby for hard of hearing people. Cohen met his partner Kristina Rihanoff on TV show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, and the pair have since had a daughter together. Cohen has appeared on numerous reality TV shows, including The Jump, The Celebrity Chase and has worked with charity Sports Relief. 

Since retiring from playing, two of England's victorious 2003 front-rowers have embarked on distinct paths. Hooker Thompson opted for a lifestyle change, relocating to Dubai. At 45 years old, he assumed ambassadorial roles for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation and was appointed as a sports ambassador for Transguard, a security and facilities management services company.

However, Thompson's journey took a poignant turn when he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia in December 2020. In a significant gesture, on September 23, 2021, he publicly expressed his desire to donate his brain for research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Regarded as one of England's finest wingers in history, this dual-code legend left an indelible mark by scoring his team's sole try against Australia on that historic occasion. Since then, he has reconnected with rugby league in a coaching role, serving as joint operations manager for the Jamaica national team.