Josh Lewsey

Army Officer turned Rugby World Cup winner, Josh Lewsey is a highly accomplished individual who has represented his country on both the rugby pitch and the battlefield. Now retired, Lewsey works as a management consultant, heading up the strategic transformation and organisational programmes for some of the largest companies in the UK. A graduate of Sandhurst, Josh Lewsey boasts both a successful rugby and military career, serving in the Royal Artillery as a troop commander before making what he called ‘the hardest decision of his life’ and resigning from the armed forces to focus on his professional rugby career. His playing career was spent at Wasps where he played more than 250 games over 11 years.

During this time, he helped the club to four Premiership titles, two Heineken Cups and a European Challenge Cup success. An England international, Lewsey earned 55 caps and was a part of the World Cup winning team in 2003. An integral part of the team, between 2003 and 2007 Lewsey was the most capped England player, highlighting his consistency of performance during this time. He also played a key role in 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand where, despite a number of below-par results, Lewsey was highlighted as one of the stand-out players of the tour.

Lewsey was once again picked for England as the team attempted to retain their crown in the 2007 World Cup. He played in every game en route to the final, however, picked up an injury in the semi-final which prevented him from appearing in the showcase finale. 2009 saw him retire from the international set-up to concentrate on his club career, before later announcing that he would retire from the sport completely at the end of the 08/09 season. Winning Wasp’s Player of the Year award in his final season was the perfect end to a career full of highs.

Since retiring, Lewsey has moved into the business sector, setting up his own consultancy company which provides businesses with lessons on how to apply organisational performance into the workplace based on his experiences in the military and within sport. He has led a number of key projects for companies in the financial sector, including Citigroup and PwC, on how to implement change. Further adding to his accomplishments, Lewsey is a successful climber and adventurer, and in 2010 attempted to climb Mount Everest, coming a mere 500 feet from the summit before issues with his breathing forced him to retreat.