**England Rugby Star Lawrence Dallaglio Sells Surrey Mansion Amid Financial Turmoil and Divorce**
Former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio has been compelled to offload his family home in Richmond, Surrey, as a result of mounting financial pressures and a turbulent divorce. The 52-year-old’s monetary struggles have become increasingly public following bankruptcy proceedings instigated by his creditors and significant upheaval in his personal life.
Dallaglio, a name synonymous with English rugby, originally purchased the four-bedroom property at the height of his sporting career 25 years ago, paying £925,000 in 2001. Recent reports indicate he intended to secure a £3.3 million sale, yet changing circumstances forced his hand. The home has now gone to 18-year-old Premier League footballer Jayden Meghoma for a reduced price of £2.7 million.
Meghoma, currently on Brentford’s roster and with experience on loan at Preston North End, is also recognised for his role in England’s under-19 team. Securing the mansion signals a significant step for the young footballer but has left Dallaglio facing a notable financial loss of approximately £600,000 from the intended sale price.
Despite what appears to be a profit on paper since the original purchase, the reality of the former rugby star’s situation is more complex. Recent insolvency hearings disclosed that the equity in the residence had shrunk to around £1.2 million, due in part to accumulated debts and financial settlements. Dallaglio’s estranged wife, Alice, initiated urgent legal action in a bid to expedite the sale and protect family assets, driven by fears of worsening financial deterioration.
Alice’s efforts, while ultimately leading to the completion of the house sale, did not prevent the court’s bankruptcy declaration. One creditor successfully secured an order against Dallaglio, emphasising the deepening nature of his financial woes despite liquidating a prime asset.
Offering a perspective on the situation, Alice’s mother, Lydia Corbett, expressed her sympathies in a statement to the press. “I’m very sad about it. People marry and they divorce, I’ve been divorced twice so I know what it’s like. It’s horrible, it’s painful for the heart and it’s not fair,” she remarked. Reflecting on Dallaglio’s situation, she added, “He did very well, I loved him, but he’s going through a bad phase and we hope he’s alright.”
The sale of the Surrey mansion is not the first indication of Dallaglio’s money troubles. Just two years prior, the rugby icon faced potentially catastrophic consequences over an unpaid tax bill estimated to be in the region of £700,000, narrowly avoiding insolvency at that time. During those proceedings, it was revealed that his sports business, founded in 1997—the same year he was appointed England captain—was heavily in debt and confronted the threat of being wound up by the courts.
To navigate out of those previous troubles, Dallaglio opted for an “individual voluntary agreement”—a formal deal with creditors that enables debtors to avoid bankruptcy by agreeing to set repayment terms. However, this recent turn of events signals that efforts to stabilise his financial footing have been unable to stem the tide.
The saga highlights the difficulties even celebrated sports figures can face when personal and financial calamities collide. Dallaglio’s journey from rugby’s upper echelons to economic hardship serves as a sombre reminder of the unpredictability that life after fame can bring.