England Rugby Legends Take MSC Virtuosa by Storm

ByChris Hughes Posted on Reading Time: 3 minutes
England Rugby Legends Take MSC Virtuosa by Storm

Inside MSC Virtuosa’s unforgettable sailing with England’s 2003 World Cup heroes

September 2025 delivered something rather special for MSC Virtuosa guests – a chance to sail the dramatic Norwegian Fjords alongside some of England’s most celebrated rugby players. Martin Johnson, Ben Cohen, and Mark Regan, heroes of the 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph, spent a whole week onboard creating the kind of memories that make cruising truly memorable.

Q&A session with Captain Martin Johnson CBE, Ben Cohen MBE and Mark Regan MBE on board MSC Virtuosa hosted by Cruise Director Gavin Carroll
Q&A session with Captain Martin Johnson CBE, Ben Cohen MBE and Mark Regan MBE on board MSC Virtuosa hosted by Cruise Director Gavin Carroll

Rugby Legends, Meet Cruise Ship Reality

What did the week consist of? Quite a bit!

  • Q&A Sessions: The rugby legends answered questions about the 2003 World Cup campaign and their careers, with signed shirt giveaways
  • Sportsman’s Lunch: A three-course meal where guests dined alongside Johnson, Cohen, and Regan with opportunities for photos and conversation
  • Dance Workshop: Ben Cohen and professional dancer Kristina Rihanoff led a dance class for interested guests
  • Children’s Rugby Coaching: Johnson and Cohen ran coaching sessions at Virtuosa’s Sportsplex for young guests
  • Talent Show Judging: The legends served as judges for the ship’s “Dancing Shoes” guest talent competition
  • F1 Simulator Races: Guests competed against the rugby players using Virtuosa’s racing simulators
  • Prize Draw: Ticketed draw for a 2003 England squad-signed rugby shirt, with automatic entry for Q&A and lunch attendees
Ben Cohen MBE and Kristina Rihanoff, professional dancer and choreographer from a popular British TV show.
Ben Cohen MBE and Kristina Rihanoff, professional dancer and choreographer from a popular British TV show.

The events were spread across the seven-day sailing, allowing guests multiple opportunities to participate depending on their interests. Some events required booking through guest accounts, while others were open to all passengers.

Antonio Paradiso, VP of International Sales at MSC Cruises, commented: “We recently welcomed three of England’s most iconic rugby legends onboard MSC Virtuosa, giving our guests the chance to meet their heroes and enjoy some fun, once-in-a-lifetime experiences with them.

It’s a great example of how MSC Cruises brings people together to create unforgettable holidays in some of the world’s best destinations. And with one final rugby sailing coming up this September, we’d encourage fans not to miss out on the chance to be part of it.“

📅 The Rugby Series Continues

Final Sailing: 27 September 2025 (Online booking)

The rugby-themed experience continues with one final sports-themed sailing featuring Neil Back, Kyran Bracken, and Andy Gomarsall – completing MSC’s series before Virtuosa finishes her last sailings for the Summer 2025 season.

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