I was an England Rugby World Cup winner – now I'm a full-time farmer who has suffered huge setbacks
Today at 11:23 AM
Julian White has swapped the rugby pitch for muddy fields since ending his playing career in 2012.
The former England and Leicester Tigers prop is now more often found tending to his 600 sheep than in the scrum.
White has also won awards for his cattle, keeping 90 cows on his Crabtree Farm in Leicestershire.
The 51-year-old started his farm in 2006 before winding down his playing career.
He now runs the site with his wife Sara and their three children.
Reflecting on his start to life as a farmer, White told The Telegraph: “It was fantastic at Leicester but I started thinking about life after rugby.
“I rented a field, had a few sheep. And if you just have one thing to focus on – just rugby – it's not healthy.”
As a player, White won 51 caps for England and was part of the side which won the Rugby World Cup in 2003.
His contribution to the triumph saw him receive an MBE for services to rugby union in the 2004 New Year Honours.
White also featured for the British & Irish Lions on their tour of New Zealand in 2005.
His career as an international sportsmen before turning to farming has seen other farmers make presumptions about White.
He added: “A lot of them are quite cagey. And, because I was a rugby player, they have this bizarre idea that I'm some sort of multi-millionaire, but I'm nowhere near that.”
Instead, though, White has had to face the same challenges as many others in the industry in recent years.
The former front row admitted: “There have been huge setbacks.
“We had the 'Beast from the East' during lambing season and suddenly all my lambs were frozen in the pens, stuff like that.
“You were struggling to break even anyway and then you have that to deal with. Floods. It can be an absolute b******.”
Despite the setbacks, White loves his new career, with his farm also open to visitors to come see his animals at the site.
He continued: “I don't want to sound like one of these moany farmers. I love what I do. If I didn't, I wouldn't be doing it.”
