Two Gloucester legends will be sharing secrets from the greatest day in England’s rugby history at a special event later this month.

Phil Vickery and Mike Tindall will be centre stage to discuss that remarkable last-gasp 20-17 World Cup final win over Australia on Saturday 22^nd November 2003.

The event, entitled, appropriately enough, RWC 2003 Rewind, will take place at the Bacon Theatre at Dean Close School, Cheltenham on Tuesday 29^th August, and will mark the launch of Gloucester centre Mark Atkinson’s testimonial year.

“They will be providing real insight about that special day,” said Atkinson, who remembers watching the final as a 13-year-old.

“I think anyone who is under 35 now won’t really remember it while anyone who is over 35 was probably too drunk to remember much about it! It will be a great evening.”

Vickery and Tindall will also host a Q&A on the upcoming World Cup, with England fans obviously hoping that Steve Borthwick and his team can inspire another generation by winning the biggest trophy in the sport.

“That World Cup win certainly inspired me,” said Atkinson. “I’d always dreamt of becoming a rugby player and that win gave me an extra little push.”

Atkinson, who is 33, joined Gloucester at the start of the 2014/15 season and his testimonial year is richly deserved after playing well over 150 games for the club.

He missed much of last season because of a knee injury but is hoping to make a first-team return in the Premiership Rugby Cup towards the end of September.

“It’s a massive honour to have been awarded a testimonial year,” he said.

“I’m following in the footsteps of some big names but there are plenty of top-drawer players who weren’t with the club for as long as I’ve been there.

“I’ve had quite a few messages from former team-mates who say they can’t believe it’s been 10 years; mind you, I’ve had a few saying that last season shouldn’t have counted as I hardly played!”

Atkinson began his top-level career with Sale in 2008, playing a handful of games for both them and then Wasps before spending a season with Esher and two with Bedford Blues.

And the once-capped England player has no plans to hang up his boots any time soon.

He signed a multi-year deal to stay with Gloucester in December 2021 and said: “I’ve had a brilliant run and I don’t intend to finish at Gloucester after 10 years.

“I feel like I’ve got a few more years to go. If anything, the injury has given me even more hunger.”

It certainly promises to be a busy 12 months for Atkinson, with the evening with Vickery and Tindall just the start of a busy programme of events in his testimonial year.

“One of the things we’d like to do is go out on a club tour, go and see some of the clubs in the county with a Gloucester player who has come through their youth section,” said Atkinson.

That should prove very popular, as will the Phil Vickery and Mike Tindall evening, of course.

The doors at the Bacon Theatre open at 6.30pm and the event, which will be supporting Atkinson’s chosen charities 4Ed and Hope for Tomorrow, runs from 7pm-10.30pm. Tickets cost £25. To book, visit https://bacontheatre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873638085