WORLD Cup winning former rugby player Maggie Alphonsi was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame following England’s triumph.
Here we take a look at her life, career and net worth.
PA:Empics SportMaggie Alphonsi won the Rugby World Cup with England in 2014[/caption]
Who is Maggie Alphonsi?
Margaret Alphonsi MBE — nicknamed ‘The Machine’ by TV commentators — was born on December 20, 1983 in Lewisham, south London.
She was in and out of hospital after being born with a club foot and grew up on a council estate in a single-parent family.
Maggie told Sky Sports: “Opportunities were low. My mum was a single parent and an amazing woman, she had two jobs so I could have a life.
“She was driven and determined, and still is now. In the environment I grew up in, there were lots of single-parent families without much money but we all had this same attitude — if you want to be successful you have to work really, really hard, go above and beyond, it was drummed into us.”
Speaking to the Guardian about how she got into rugby union, Alphonsi credits her PE teacher’s black eye: “Liza Burgess was the Welsh women’s captain, the first woman to be on the Welsh Rugby Union Board, a hall-of-famer in world rugby.
“When she was my teacher she was playing for Wales and Saracens. I was so intrigued by her black eye. It was after a Saracens match and I asked her about it and she told me about rugby — which was never a sport I had associated with women.
“She encouraged me to take up the sport by focusing on my strengths and saying they were suited to rugby. I wasn’t used to praise but she focused on the things that make me unique.
“It made me feel valued and appreciated. So I went down to my local rugby club, which was Saracens in Bramley Road [in Southgate]. The game gave me a freedom which I never found in any other sport.”
Taking her education as seriously as her rugby, Maggie earned an MSc in Sports & Exercise from Roehampton University, a BSc in Sports & Exercise from De Montfort University, a BTEC National Diploma in Leisure Studies from Hertford Regional College, and was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts by the University of Bedfordshire.
After attending a training session at Saracens, she never looked back, and by the age of 18 was selected for the England Academy squad, winning her first international cap at just 19.
Alphonsi started off playing as a centre, before switching to openside flanker at the outset of her England career.
In 2015 Maggie became the first ever former female player to commentate on men’s international rugby when ITV signed her up for their coverage of the Rugby World Cup, which was hosted by England.
To cap a glittering career, on top of being named the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year in 2010, Alphonsi was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2016.
What clubs has Maggie Alphonsi played for?
Maggie’s domestic career was spent at the club she first trained with as a youngster, London-based Saracens.
She also played for the England international rugby union team.
Before retiring in from her international career in 2014, Alphonsi made 74 appearances for her country and scored an impressive 28 tries, won a record-breaking seven consecutive Six Nations titles and the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup held in France.
Maggie finished her club career the following year in 2015, having led her club Saracens to a league and club double
Is Maggie Alphonsi married and does she have any children?
Maggie is married to Marcia Collins.
The couple have two children together, a boy and a girl — Artie Wynne Alphonsi, born on October 2, 2020 and Willow Rebecca Alphonsi, born on January 1, 2023.
Alphonsi and her wife prefer to keep their private life out of the public spotlight.
What is Maggie Alphonsi’s net worth?
Maggie’s net worth is reportedly $1.5million (£1.2million), but she still has a number of ongoing careers, so that may well rise in the future.
She amassed her fortune mainly as a professional rugby union player.
Alphonsi works a commentator for outlets including ITV, Sky Sports, BBC Sport and England Rugby TV.
She is also a professional speaker, sharing her experiences with a variety of audiences — ranging from corporate business events, to addressing and inspiring school children.
On top of all that, Maggie is an ambassador for a range of high profile charities and companies including LandRover, Guinness and HSBC.