When Matt Dawson missed England rugby training to appear on the long-running BBC quiz show A Question of Sport he was told he had made a big mistake.

Less than a year after winning the World Cup the scrum-half put a recording session ahead of the first of two training days and paid with his national jersey.

Frowned upon

Acting head coach Andy Robinson took a dim view of one of his players favouring a fledgling TV career over England, thereby securing his future beyond rugby, and told Dawson he would not return to the squad until his priorities changed.

The Wasps star, offered the chance to take over from Frankie Dettori as resident captain, held firm, explaining that being on the show was a 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood dream and it was too great an opportunity to miss.

Former Red Rose boss Jack Rowell praised Robinson for sending out an “important message” that “playing for England should be the biggest thing in your rugby life.

“It’s not there for anyone to tinker around with,” added the late, legendary Bath and England coach.

Seventeen years later Dawson was still on the world’s longest-running TV sports quiz, a profile that opened numerous other doors.

His decision looked smart at the time, smarter still now.

Last month a documentary titled Unbreakable: England 2003 lifted the lid on darker challenges that have affected the lives of many for so long defined by English rugby’s greatest day.

Ben Cohen, who has experienced financial difficulties in the ensuing 21 years, made the stark confession that he wished he had never played rugby.

“Why on earth did I go down that road? Why didn’t I go and get a s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁set,” he told Planet Rugby. “Tell me how those great times earn me a living now.”

Phil Vickery, who went on to captain England in the 2007 World Cup final, create a line of clothing, win Celebrity Masterchef and open a restaurant, has since gone through a divorce and bankruptcy, had his struggles with mental health and been diagnosed with brain damage.

There were other examples of great rugby men experiencing suffering of the kind few on the outside would ever imagine.

“We knew some of the stories would be very powerful because of the perception of ’03,” Dawson said. “We were deemed these superhuman individuals.

“People don’t think that when people are successful they go through these things. Back in 2003, with the parades and dinners and awards we could never have anticipated this being the case. We were all riding the rollercoaster.”

’03 Champions

Since the show was aired and the players themselves launched ’03 Champions, a charity championing and supporting retired rugby professionals suffering physical and mental health issues, there has been an outpouring of support.

Dawson said: “The rugby community has always cared about the Game, not just the watching of the game but that general sort of looking after its assets.

“But what has become very apparent is that this group of individuals is etched into a lot of people’s minds, for various reasons.

“That whole idea of ’03 being full of superheroes, whether it’s inspiring the kids of that generation or people remembering where they were, everybody has got a story to tell about ’03.”

According to Dawson, he encountered a lot of shock after the show aired.

“I think sports fans know it goes on, that players’ lives post-career are not all plain sailing,” he added. “I just don’t think they expected it to be quite as riddled within the ’03 crew.”

Should have started earlier

His only regret is that the Boys of ’03 did not reunite to help themselves earlier.

“We should have been doing this 20 years ago,” he said. “We should have had the foresight to say, ‘right, we have our own entity, we are going to look after ourselves going forward’.

“That was the massive lesson learned last year from our 20-year get-together. We were a little bit longer in the tooth, a little bit more honest and open with each other to say not only do we need to help each other out, we don’t want other rugby players feeling like we are. It’s just unacceptable.

“We’re not trying to turn people into millionaires. This is about paying people’s mortgages, getting people through their day.”