Lawrence Dallaglio has revealed how his success in rugby was driven by his grief over the death of his sister, who drowned when he was only 16.
The former England captain lost his sister Francesca in the 1989 Marchioness disaster, when two boats collided in the Thames. Fifty-one people died.
On London Live’s Headline Interview Dallaglio, 42, told Evening Standard Editor Sarah Sands he was badly affected by Francesca’s death, but rugby turned his life around.
It inspired him to set up the Dallaglio Foundation, which helps troubled young people find solace in rugby and raises money for cancer victims.
The World Cup winner said: “We all have incidents that happen in our lives and for me that came at a very early age — at the age of 16. For a little while I was definitely making some bad decisions and some bad choices.
“I think rugby came at the right time for me and I used it as a conduit to help me to change my life.
“I was never an outstanding rugby player. But when you feel wronged in life you need something to right that wrong. Rugby became that thing that I grabbed onto and I became quite a determined young man.
“I think the power that drove me to success on the rugby field came from more than just wanting to take the game up.
“There was something much deeper than that that drove me to success. Because rugby is a metaphor for life. Having the ability to persuade other people to do things with you is something that’s very rewarding.
“The foundation is something ... with great success comes responsibility. People need role models and to give something back. I believe in the power of sport to transform people’s lives.”
