Where Are They Now? When Charlie Hodgson bent it like Beckham

Memories of 2002 will be flooding back when England play Argentina in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals in Atlanta, Georgia, for the first of two major sporting clashes between the nations before the weekend.

Steve Borthwick takes his side to the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades on Saturday night for a must-win Nations Championship clash that could be a revenge mission depending on the result of the football tomorrow night.

It was 24 years ago on 7 June 2002 in Sapporo, Japan, when the Three Lions, managed by the late Sven-Göran Eriksson, defeated the South Americans 1-0 thanks to a David Beckham penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Then 15 days later, Sir Clive Woodward’s largely young and inexperienced side put in a fantastic second-half display to beat Los Pumas 26-18 at the Estadio Vélez Sarsfield, with tries from Phil Christophers and Ben Kay, both converted by Charlie Hodgson, who also kicked three penalties.

Tim Stimpson also landed a penalty, while the hosts’ points came from six penalties kicked by Italy’s current head coach Gonzalo Quesada in front of 4,000 fans, the only time the two countries have played two games in football and rugby so close together.

The following year England won the Rugby World Cup in Australia with a squad including Mark Regan, Steve Thompson, Phil Vickery, Joe Worsley, Ben Kay, Lewis Moody, Andy Gomarsall and Trevor Woodman.

Others, though, got limited opportunities to wear the white jersey after the trip to Argentina. Alex Codling, Geoff Appleford and Michael Horak became members of the ‘One-Cap Club’, while other debutants, Ben Johnson and Christophers, only won two and five caps apiece.

England in 2002:

15. Michael Horak – The Johannesburg-born, London Irish full-back, who qualified for England through his mother, spent over a decade as High Performance Manager at Durban-based United Rugby Championship outfit Sharks Rugby.

14. Tim Stimpson – The Leicester Tigers and Lions star is one of the highest points scorers in Gallagher Prem history and, since retiring, has launched a successful business career with interests in sustainability, performance and wellbeing.

13. Geoff Appleford – The South African-born, London Irish centre qualified for England through his grandparents and scored two tries in their 2002 English Cup final win over Northampton. Has worked for the RFU as a software developer.

12. Ben Johnston – Saracens centre, who only won one more cap as a replacement for Will Greenwood in the 31-28 win over the All Blacks at Twickenham and, for the last decade, has been head of rugby at St George’s College, Weybridge.

11. Phil Christophers – The German-born, ex-Bristol and Leeds was on the fringes of England’s 2007 World Cup squad. Settled in France and is co-gérant for the Wagner Group in Voiron, and the firm’s business development director for the UK and Ireland.

10. Charlie Hodgson – Lions tourist who served Sale Sharks and Saracens with distinction. Has worked as an account manager in the medical industry and is now the founder of the mentoring firm Rugby Buddy.

9. Andy Gomarsall – The much-travelled scrum-half went into business and is Executive Director of Business & Sustainability at the IT Lifecycle Management firm n2s. He has also worked in the media.

1. David Flatman – The Saracens and Bath prop started playing at hometown club Maidstone, where his father played in the front row, and is a hugely successful media pundit, commentator and Corporate host and speaker.

2. Steve Thompson – Northampton Saints and Lions hooker, who has lived in Dubai, worked in the media, and also been a director of Powder Monkey Brewing Co.

3. Phil Vickery (capt.) – The Gloucester, Wasps and Lions prop was the founder of Raging Bull clothing firm. Also winner of Celebrity MasterChef and has been a non-executive director of a leading national foodservice provider.

4. Alex Codling – Former lock who has had spells at approaching 20 clubs as a player and coach. Was Munster’s line-out specialist last season, but has joined Top 14 giants Toulon to replace Sergio Parisse.

5. Ben Kay – The Leicester Tigers and Lions lock, whose father and sister have sat as judges. Is a founding partner of the ad agency Pablo London, and is a well-respected pundit for TNT Sports and a non-executive director of Leicester.

6. Alex Sanderson – The back-row was an assistant coach at Saracens for 13 years before returning to Sale Sharks, where he has been director of rugby since January 2001.

7. Lewis Moody – Leicester, Bath and Lions back row has run coaching courses and been a Performance Coach at KBM Inspired. In October 2025, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).

8. Joe Worsley – Wasps and Lions back row who has worked as a defence coach with Castres and Brive in France and co-founded the YouTube Channel FR- UK with Tim Cocker to promote the French game.

Replacements:
16. Mark Regan – The Lions hooker has been involved in a crane repair company, buy-to-let properties, ran coaching courses, and is an after-dinner speaker and analyst for BBC Radio Bristol.

17. Trevor Woodman – Plymouth-born Gloucester and Sale prop has worked as a coach at Sydney University, the ARU, Wasps and was forwards coach at Kingsholm until the end of June. Is now at Connacht.

18. Hugh Vyvyan – The former Newcastle Falcons and Saracens No.8 worked on rugby and cricket broadcasting deals, and as Gallagher’s business development director, but is now vice-president of international Rights Sales at The Team.

19. Adam Balding – The back row was Director of Rugby at Birmingham Moseley until stepping down at the end of May. Has also worked as a sports and business consultant.

20. Nick Walshe – Scrum-half, who was the coach of the England teams that won the U20 World Junior Championships in 2013 and 2014, and now runs PWW Ltd, a company that rents properties in the Cotswolds and London.

21. Dave Walder – A fly-half who was appointed attack coach at former club Newcastle, then head coach and director of rugby, and has been an assistant coach with Bristol Bears and now Exeter Chiefs.

22. Kevin Sorrell – The Saracens centre, who spent more than 30 years at the club as a player and then coach until leaving when his contract ran out at the end of June. Now works for the RFU.