
Matt Dawson was a scrum half and a key part of the England rugby team that won
the 2003 World Cup. One of England’s most capped players of all time, he’s now
as well known for his media appearances from A Question of Sport to Masterchef.
As a player, Matt played over 70 times for England, and famously his pass in the
dying moments of the World Cup final resulted in the kick that won the game. He
also captained England and played on three Lions’ tours. As part of the worldbeating
team he was involved in a revolutionary set-up that introduced new ideas
and professional attitudes. He witnessed first-hand the organisation and team
structure, the handing of responsibility to individuals and coaches, the culture of
team and player accountability and the analysis of performances.
Since his retirement, Matt has developed two parallel careers: in media and in
business. In the former he’s a regular commenting on live matches for BT Sport
and BBC 5Live. He was also the longest serving team captain on the BBC perennial
A Question of Sport, where his banter with opposing captain Phil Tufnell became a
popular feature of a show that’s been on air for over four decades.
In business, Matt balances two jobs; working with commercial property company
The Instant Group, and with facilities management giants Sodexo. Working in
these areas has given him an insight into businesses, how they run, the
expectations of clients, and how to deal with everyday challenges from getting
groups to work together to accountability for results.
Constantly challenging himself, Matt won his series of Celebrity Masterchef (which
has seen him develop a sideline in food-related books and programmes including
Mitch and Matt’s Big Fish) and finishing runner-up in Strictly Come Dancing. He’s
also appeared on Would I Lie To You?, The Wright Stuff, and celebrity editions of
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and The Chase.
Matt applies lessons from the pitch and dressing room and combines them with
his commercial knowledge to deliver messages on everything from staff
engagement to leadership culture. As well as serious business insights he is also an
accomplished presenter, adding humour and understanding to awards and to
conferences. He also pairs up with his QoS sparring partner Tuffers for an evening
of light-hearted chat and anecdotes.