Rugby World Cup winner Ben Cohen reveals he sold medal during Covid

Ben Cohen on attack against the All Blacks in 2004. Photo / Photosport

England Rugby World Cup champion Ben Cohen has revealed that he sold his winner’s medal to survive financial struggles during Covid-19.

The winger played 57 tests for England, including starting in the 2003 final victory over Australia in Sydney. He also played two tour matches for the British and Irish Lions in 2001.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Cohen opened up about his post-career struggles.

“It meant everything, winning a World Cup,” he said. “The bigger issue for me was that I just didn’t get a skill set or a life skill, and now I think, well, OK, winning a World Cup doesn’t really bring me anything. It’s not like it’s a degree, you know.

“I probably wish I’d got a skill set and a steady job. Then I probably would have looked the other way and thought ‘I wish I could have been a sportsman’. But the reality is I would probably rather have been over [on that other side], because it’s going to suit me for the rest of my life, instead of a portion of my life. When you sort of get [to retirement] you think: ‘I’m in my 30s, who am I?’ And at that point you think, I am lonely here, this is sink or swim.”

Cohen revealed in another interview on the Outspoken with White & Jordan Podcast that he actually sold his medal.

“I sold it. I sold my World Cup medal to survive Covid. To survive,” Cohen said.

“I had to survive,” Cohen explained. “I had nothing in Covid. It doesn’t give you a living. Winning a World Cup medal is great, to leave your kids a story, and we can talk about it. But it’s great that it gives other people that uplift, that moment. The reality is, I’ve got no work. What is my work? I’ll try and create and I’ll try and do things. And it’s not that I’m lazy.”

“It affected so many people, he said. “You shut down the world and the bills carry on, the policies carry on and they continue to get interest. Where do you turn to? The government wasn’t there to help. Your mortgage carries on, your second mortgage carries on, then they’re going to come after your house.

“That for me has been horrendous to try and pay that off. I came close to losing my house, I paid a fortune over and above what my initial policy was. But I wouldn’t be the only one in it.”

Cohen has helped launch The Champions 2003 campaign which has been set up to assist professional rugby players in adjusting to normal life post-career.