England rugby legend Matt Dawson received fantastic news as his son, Sami Dawson, was signed by Premier League club Brentford.
Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Overcoming Early Health Challenges
Sami showed incredible resilience from an early age, having made a full recovery from bacterial meningitis when he was just two years old. The illness, which can be life-threatening, was a pivotal moment for the Dawson family.
Raising Awareness for Meningitis
Since Sami’s recovery, Matt Dawson has been committed to raising awareness about the dangers of meningitis through GSK’s Tackle Meningitis campaign. Reflecting on that difficult time, Dawson said, “You have the immediate worry and not knowing what’s around the corner.”
He described the emotional strain of watching his son in an induced coma, noting how uncertain the outcome was. “Any parent staring at their child in an induced coma wants to know if they are going to be okay, but the medics are not in a position to say because it’s that serious.”
A Rollercoaster of Emotions
Dawson explained how mentally tough it was to witness Sami’s condition and expressed the difficulty of discussing those moments. “We took pictures of Sami because we didn’t know if we would ever be able to take more again,” he said.
Now, years later, the family finds themselves watching Sami play football at an elite level. “It’s an incredible rollercoaster of emotions,” Dawson added. “We’re probably some of the lucky few, and we encourage people to act promptly and seek professional advice if they have any concerns about meningitis.”
Dawson split with wife after 11 years, he’s now dating a social media influencer
Dawson revealed that the decision stemmed from a mutual desire for a “new direction” in their relationship. Despite this transition, the couple remains steadfast in their commitment to co-parenting their two cherished sons.
He said on Twitter: “We know this will be a surprise to most but after 11 years together Carolin and I have decided our relationship needs a new direction, bringing our marriage to an end.
“The love for our beautiful boys grows stronger day by day as does our friendship as co-parents.
“To our dear friends please continue to support us as positively as you can for the next stage of our lives.
“It’s vital that Alex and Sami understand that we will always be a united family.”
New partner:
Dawson is now dating personal trainer and social media influencer Elizabeth Kelly.
Her Instagram bio reads: “There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
What England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup heroes look like now, some are very different
Sir Clive Woodward’s England lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy for the first – and so far only – time in 2003, after a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal in extra time.
Woodward’s side are still the only northern hemisphere side to win the World Cup, with the other nine tournaments won by South Africa (four), New Zealand (three) and Australia (two).
In a video posted by England Rugby’s Instagram account, Wilkinson – who scored the all important drop goal 28 seconds from time – said: ‘It’s great being back with all the guys from the squad 20 years on.
‘It’s great to be able to see everyone, and to get a feel of what everyone’s been up to, but also to I guess get a feel for why we were able to do what we did 20 years ago, because it still lives on in everyone.’
Take a look at how some of the key players look now:
Phil Vickery
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.
Jonny Wilkinson
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.
Will Greenwood
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.
CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO
The post Matt Dawson’s miracle son has signed for Premier League club, he’s an exciting prospect appeared first on Ruck.
