Army Officer turned Rugby World Cup winner, Josh Lewsey MBE 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 strategic transformation and organisational programmes for some of the largest companies in the UK.
A graduate of Sandhurst, Josh Lewsey MBE 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 by and large, 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. As a rugby speaker Lewsey shares tales and anecdotes from his incredibly successful time with the Wasps as well as expressing his tremendous affinity with the team and the Army from his previous line of work.
An England international, Lewsey earned 55 caps and was a part of the Rugby 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 the 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. An incredibly successful part of his career that will forever remain a highlight and series of fond memories, Lewsey speaks with great passion and delight about these achievements during his work as a rugby speaker.
Lewsey was once again picked for England as the team attempted to retain their crown in the 2007 Rugby 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. Succeeding and flourishing in almost everything he does, Josh Lewsey MBE epitomises peak performance and through his various exploits and accomplishments is able to provide an incredibly entertaining and captivating performance as a rugby speaker ensuring he is able to resonate to all guests and attendees while covering a vast array of topics. A Rugby World Cup winner and incredible talent, Josh Lewsey MBE is available to hire as a rugby speaker for any event, dinner or function.
