Martin Johnson

As a keynote , motivational or after dinner speaker, Martin Johnson is unparalleled in his skill, charm and humour. Formerly England Manager and international player, who captained England to victory in the World Cup in 2003, his anecdotes and insights into teamwork and leadership are the ideal match for corporate dinners or business events.

In 1987 Martin began playing rugby for the England Under 18's, and was soon picked up by the Leicester Tigers’ senior squad. He also represented King Country in New Zealand, where he was picked for their Under-21 squad.

Martin’s England debut came as a last minute replacement, and was followed with many further England games and tours of New Zealand with the British Lions.
By now Martin was a household name and a sporting legend. Named the ‘98/‘99 Allied Dunbar Premiership Player of the Season, and Leicester Tigers’ club captain in 1997, Martin led his squad to victory in the Pilkington Cup, as well as four successive Premiership titles between 1999 and 2002. They also won the inaugural Zurich Championship in 2001, under Martin’s leadership.

Uniquely, Martin was the only man ever to have captained the British Lions on two separate tours, to South Africa in 1997 and Australia 2001, as well as the first player from a Northern Hemisphere side to captain his team to a World Cup triumph over Australia in Sydney. This victory rode the success from earlier in the same year, when he took his side to their Grand Slam victory in the 2002/3 Six Nations Championship, their first Grand Slam title since 1995.

Martin’s outstanding career was honoured by the Queen in 2004 with an OBE, and in 2008 he was appointed to the position of England Manager, which he held for three years.

In 2011, at the IRB Awards in Auckland, Martin was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame.