Steve Borthwick recruits Martin Johnson in bid to spark England Six Nations revival

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At England’s training base at Pennyhill Park, the current squad gathered for a dinner with members of the 2003 side last night, among them the captain Martin Johnson, the Test centurion Jason Leonard and Lewis Moody, who disclosed in October that he has motor neurone disease. Lawrence Dallaglio, Phil Vickery, Ben Kay, Paul Grayson, Richard Hill and Will Greenwood were also present, offering a wealth of experience from an era that culminated in World Cup glory.

The meeting came days after England’s championship hopes were extinguished following a 42-21 loss to Ireland, a week on from defeat by Scotland. Borthwick believes revisiting the resilience of the past can help shape the present.

"We are very fortunate and grateful to have a number of the 2003 World Cup winners joining the squad tonight. The purpose of this is to learn from their experiences. They had setbacks. They had moments where games, losses didn’t go the way they wanted them to. They had moments in games in that 2003 World Cup where it wasn’t going the way they wanted it to and they found a way through it. I look forward to those players sharing their experiences with our current players tonight."

England’s class of 2003 did not have a smooth ascent. They stumbled in grand slam pursuits in 1999, 2000 and 2001 before finally sweeping the Six Nations in 2003, eight months before lifting the Webb Ellis Cup. That capacity to absorb disappointment and return stronger is the quality Borthwick wants his squad to understand.

His determination to reconnect with the past was formed over the winter, and isn't a knee-jerk reaction to recent poor results and performances.

"You know how fiercely passionate I am about English rugby. There are still people in that group I am connected to, including Richard Hill who is such an integral member of our management team. Around Christmas time, I was thinking ‘I am fortunate to chat to Clive. I am fortunate to pick his brains and learn from his experiences. Why aren’t we learning from the past players?’ So I asked Richard Hill to reach out to a number of them and ask if they would be happy to help. I am very grateful that they are.

"Tonight we have got Jason Leonard, Phil Vickery, Martin Johnson, Ben Kay, Lawrence Dallaglio, Richard Hill, Lewis Moody, Paul Grayson and Will Greenwood.

"The coaches are going to meet with them first. Then a group of senior players will meet with them. And then we will all have dinner together this evening and have a chance to chat and learn from their experiences.

"This was planned weeks ago."

Borthwick has identified specific themes for discussion but wants dialogue rather than lectures.

"There is lots and I have sat with Richard Hill and talked through…he talks about moments in their journey and each one of the players can talk through the role they played in the journey, moments in their journey and each one of these players can share the role they played in their journey from being one of the key leaders of the team from someone who didn’t play as much but had a role in assisting and preparing the team.

"We have a number of topics and areas I want them to discuss, what I’m keen to do is let the players explore and discuss with them and share their thoughts."

The tables were organised according to positional units to promote detailed, position specific conversations. As there was no scrum-half from the 2003 squad in attendance, the player who replaces the sidelined Alex Mitchell would have needed to draw insight from someone operating in a different role.

"The dinner is done by position group so I’m going to have the players sat in their relevant position so they can discuss [things]. I’m sure with Jason and Vicks there will be a lot of food eaten at the front-row table and there will be a lot of stories being told."

Moody’s presence is expected to resonate deeply, and perhaps give some context to players that despite the poor results, rugby is just a game and there are plenty of people facing real-life battles.

"He addressed the team in the changing room in the autumn and it was incredibly moving. He gave a heartfelt message to the team and you could hear a pin drop when he was speaking.

"The team have also expressed their desire to help in any way shape or form and hopefully there will be an opportunity in the future when the current England team and the 2003 World Cup winning team can work together to help Lewis and his family.

"In terms of tonight, it’s very much around English rugby and wanting the England rugby team to do well. He will be hosting a table with the back rowers and addressing the senior players."

See the Legends 20 Years On!
Check out how some of England’s 2003 champions look now and see what life after rugby has brought for these legendary players.

podcast, and sharing his insights through regular columns.

For many younger fans, Matt Dawson—the scrum-half whose perfect pass set up Jonny Wilkinson’s legendary drop goal—has become synonymous with the BBC sports quiz show A Question of Sport. Dawson served as a team captain during Sue Barker’s tenure as host, from 2004 to 2021.

Beyond the quiz show, he’s explored other media roles, finishing as runner-up on Strictly Come Dancing and competing on Celebrity MasterChef in 2006.

Today, Dawson remains a familiar voice for the BBC, providing commentary on England games, contributing to the Rugby Daily

Any Six Nations fan will know Martin Johnson’s journey after he famously led England to their historic 2003 World Cup and Grand Slam triumph.

Appointed as head coach in April 2008, the former powerhouse of the second row took the helm for the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Six Nations campaigns. In 2011, on his third attempt, Johnson guided England to their first Championship victory since that unforgettable 2003 season.

Now 53, Johnson has shifted his influence to media, becoming one of the BBC’s top rugby analysts since the 2018 Six Nations. A dedicated American football enthusiast, he also previously contributed to ITV and the BBC’s coverage of Super Bowls XLI and XLVI

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.