ONE is a 2003 Rugby World Cup winner and the other has made 42 Test cricket appearances for England.
Here is the lowdown on the former A Question of Sport team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell, and why they were axed from the show.
The pair, along with Sue Barker, were axed from A Question of Sport
Matt Dawson won the World Cup with England in 2003Credit: Getty Images – Getty
How old are Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell?
Dawson was born in Birkenhead on October 31, 1972.
The 48-year-old started his career as a scrum-half for Northampton, where he played between 1991 and 2004.
He then moved to Wasps, where he played for two years before his retirement in 2006.
Dawson debuted for England against Western Samoa in 1995 and played for eleven years before his retirement.
The star delivered the pass for Jonny Wilkinson’s famous tournament-winning drop goal at the 2003 World Cup in Australia.
Tufnell, 54, was one of English crickets biggest characters, was born in Chipping Barnet in North London in 1966.
The left-arm spinner took 121 Test wickets during his career and has been a captain on A Question of Sport since 2008 while Dawson has been a skipper since 2004.
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What football team does Matt Dawson support?
Matt Dawson is a lifelong Everton fan.
Although you wouldn’t know it from his accent, the former scrum-half was born in Birkenhead before moving to Buckinghamshire and attending the Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe.
On his upbringing on Merseyside, he told the Liverpool Echo: “My grandparents are still over there.
“I have fond memories of running around there with my grandparents trying to dress me in a Liverpool kit but I’d get upset because I only wanted to wear an Everton top.
“My family are a typical Mersey mix of reds and blues and my dad is Tranmere Rovers but it’s always been the Toffees for me.
“I think it started simply because I preferred the colour blue but it developed into an obsession.
“I was lucky because I was born in ‘72 and when I was really getting into football was the mid-80s so there was plenty of success and great times to keep me interested.”
Phil Tufnell played nearly 50 times for England in TestsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
What football team does Phil Tuffnell support?
Phil Tufnell is a lifelong Arsenal fan, having grown up nearby in Barnet.
He spoke extensively about his ambitions for the club a couple a couple of years ago when he released his autobiography Where Am I?.
Tufnell can also sometimes be seen tweeting in support of the Gunners.
Why are they being axed from A Question of Sport?
BBC have axed Sue Barker, Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell from A Question of Sport after bosses planned a huge shakeup for the show in 2021.
The stars are said to have been “blind-sided” by the decision from bosses.
A spokesperson said: “We would like to thank Sue for her enormous contribution as the show’s longest-reigning host over the last 23 years, and Matt and Phil for their excellent team captaincy over 16 and 12 years respectively.
“Sue, Matt and Phil’s final series will be broadcast next year before the series returns with a new team.”
How long have they presented A Question of Sport?
Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell have been presenting A Question of Sport for well over a decade.
Matt has been a part of the team for 16 years, and Phil has worked on the show for 12 years.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
