PHIL VICKERY MBE DL
aka “The Raging Bull” – RUGBY UNION LEGEND – CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF WINNER
Phil Vickery MBE DL is one of the legends of Rugby Union. Capped 73 times for his country, and twice a British & Irish Lion, he also captained England at the 2007 World Cup and was part of the historic team that lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in 2003. Although retired from the game he is still actively involved through coaching and commentating. His views are regularly sought by the media and he writes regular columns for the national press.
He was awarded an MBE in 2003, appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire in 2015 and is an ambassador for The Prince of Wales Trust in June 2017 he became a non-executive director at Creed Food Services. He also has his own clothing company Raging Bull Leisurewear.
Also available for voiceover work. Phil was born in Cornwall and has subtle westcountry accent.
MORE ABOUT PHIL
Phil is the son of farmer and his brother still runs the family farm in Cornwall. He has a passion for the outdoors, farming, the countryside and for inspiring people to eat well.
Phil was something of a sensation as a dab hand in the kitchen winning the 2011 series of Master Chef.
He is often seen on television either commentating or hosting or cooking on multiple mid-morning shows and at food demonstrations.
He has just recently been made a patron of The Country Food Trust Charity which produces food and donates it to people in need. Their aim is to feed over one million people in the next five years.
Facts & Achievements
Born: 14th March 1976
Nationality: England
Teams: London Wasps (2006-2010), Gloucester Rugby (1995-2006)
Honours: England (73 caps), British & Irish Lions (5 caps)
Lives in Gloucestershire with his wife Kate and children Megan and Harry.
He was awarded an MBE in 2003, appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire in 2015
Founder of the successful sportswear company Raging Bull.
BIOGRAPHY / HISTORY
PHIL VICKERY IS ONE OF RUGBY UNION’S GREATEST PLAYERS.
He is a former English rugby union tighthead prop. Capped 73 times by England. He enjoyed a memorable career at club and international level, he played in three Rugby World Cups and was a member of England’s World Cup winning squad in 2003, playing in all seven matches in the tournament, then captaining his country to the final in 2007. He also toured Australia and South Africa with the British and Irish Lions and was also capped 5 times.
Phil, ended his club rugby career in 2010 at London Wasps, against Gloucester on 25 September, which is where he started his career.
Having joining the London side in 2006 after eleven years with Gloucester Rugby. He was given the nickname “Raging Bull”.
Since hanging up his boots Phil continues to give up his time for a number of charities – including The Pied Piper Appeal and Wooden Spoon.
In addition, Phil is an official ambassador to both the Prince’s Countryside Fund and Six Nations title sponsor RBS, including the banking group’s RugbyForce scheme.
He has just recently been made a patron of The Country Food Trust Charity which produces food and donates it to people in need. Their aim is to feed over one million people in the next five years.
Since hanging up his boots Phil continues to give up his time for a number of charities – including The Pied Piper Appeal and Wooden Spoon.
In addition, Phil is an official ambassador to both the Prince’s Countryside Fund and Six Nations title sponsor RBS, including the banking group’s RugbyForce scheme.
He has just recently been made a patron of The Country Food Trust Charity which produces food and donates it to people in need. Their aim is to feed over one million people in the next five years.
Phil was part of ITV Sport’s team for their exclusive coverage of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, and in October 2011 he was crowned BBC Celebrity MasterChef champion after beating journalist Kirsty Wark and actor Nick Pickard in the final.
CAREER PROFILE
He started with the Cornish club Bude, then moved to Redruth, during which time he first appeared in an England Colts side. In 1995, England ‘A’ coach Richard Hill persuaded the 19-year-old Vickery to join Gloucester Rugby, where he became known as “The Raging Bull”.
Whilst at Gloucester he started in the 2002 Zurich Championship Final (the year before winning the play-offs constituted winning the English title) in which Gloucester defeated Bristol Rugby. The following year he missed their 2003 Powergen Cup Final triumph through injury.
In April 2006 he announced he was quitting Gloucester Rugby after 11 years and signed for Wasps in a 3-year deal. Vickery made his Wasps debut in their 23 – 13 win over London Irish on 8 October 2006.
On 28 October 2010, Vickery was forced to retire from rugby after suffering from several neck injuries. He played his last game at Kingsholm against Gloucester on 25 September, which is where he started his career.
REPRESENTATIVE CAREER
His representative career went from strength to strength, with appearances for England U21s and Colts in the 1996–97 season.
Vickery made his England debut against Wales aged 21 on 21 February 1998, coming off the bench to replace Darren Garforth against Wales at Twickenham in the Five Nations tournament, a match England won 60–26. It was the completion of a rapid rise through the England set-up, after only 34 first team games for his club and just 81 days after his England A debut.
Summer 1998 saw Vickery taking part in the tour of the Southern Hemisphere as part of an England squad. The tour had benefits for some players, bringing through future stars of the England side such as Vickery himself and Jonny Wilkinson. Vickery recovered from a neck injury in April 1999 and played in that year’s Rugby World Cup. He toured Australia with the British and Irish Lions in 2001 and played in all three tests.
Vickery was appointed captain of the England squad that toured Argentina in 2002 and led the side to victory against The Pumas in Buenos Aires. Vickery helped England on the road to the 2003 World Cup, he played in all seven games in the tournament and captained the side against Uruguay. He scored his first international try when he came off the bench against Samoa in England’s third game of the tournament. He played a full part in the 2004 Six Nations before taking a break.
Making his international comeback, Vickery came on as a replacement against South Africa for the first Autumn Test between the two sides on 18 November 2006. After playing well, he drove over to score the winning try, which was converted by Andy Goode, and England won their first game since February that year.
He was selected on 2 January by new England Head Coach Brian Ashton to captain the side during the 2007 Six Nations and 2007 Rugby World Cup. He was one of only four players to have started both the 2003 and 2007 RWC Finals, the other three being Jonny Wilkinson, Jason Robinson and Ben Kay. Vickery was again selected for the 2008 Six Nations Championship; and captained the side to win the Millennium Trophy and achieve their best result in the tournament since 2003.
CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF WINNER 2011
Winning menu: Scallops with black pudding, followed by loin of lamb with baby carrots and fondant potatoes, chocolate orange bread and butter pudding.
Not to be confused with the actual TV chef of the same name, former England rugby captain Phil Vickery was something of a sensation on the 2011 series as he brushed aside Kirsty Wark and Nick Pickard in the final.
The grizzled tight-head grew up on a farm and definitely knows his ingredients. As well as cooking on multiple mid-morning shows, he’s helped McDonald’s by joining a campaign to source producers for their menus, has advised and supported the British butcher team and was also the face of last year’s British Sausage Week.
He’s also said that he’d consider setting up a restaurant in his native Gloucestershire.
2011 winner Phil Vickery has gone on to promote wider food awareness by backing campaigns and working alongside manufacturers. In June 2017 he became a non-executive director at Creed Food Services. He is often seen on television cooking on multiple mid-morning shows and at food demonstrations.
One of the county’s most successful ever rugby players has teamed up with one of its most successful family-run food businesses in an exciting new partnership.
Mr Vickery will become a non-executive director at the Staverton company and will be involved in some client facing activities. He will also attend the Creed board meetings.
Creed’s values and positioning are a great natural fit with my personal interest in identifying the beliefs and characteristics that make us all so different and enable us to achieve our ambitions, however big or small,” said Mr Vickery.
“It could be anything – walking again after a spinal injury, winning a Rugby World Cup, setting up your own successful business, or just making other people happy.”
“Each of us is climbing our own personal Everest and that takes hard work, skill, dedication and sacrifice. I’m looking forward to unearthing great stories that demonstrate the rich variety of human achievement around us.”
The partnership is built around a shared commitment to achieving more by believing in yourself. For Creed, that means being far more than just a foodservice wholesaler, it aims to celebrate the human values at the heart of the business that are encapsulated by the company’s motto, ‘Believe in More’.
Chris Creed, chief executive officer of Creed, said, “We’re really excited about working with Phil. It’s a true meeting of minds. Our business is built around Believe in More, a mantra that guides everything we do with our customers, partners and employees and recognises the importance of values and friendship in business.
VIDEO
PHIL VICKERY – SON OF CORNWALL
SOCIAL MEDIA
Find Phil Vickery on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
VIDEO
PHIL VICKERY – RAGINGING BULL – INTERVIEW
CHARITY COLLABORATIONS
COLLABORATIONS
