Born in Dublin, a 13-year-old Bracken was later awarded a rugby scholarship to Stonyhurst School in Lancashire, where fellow future England internationals Will Greenwood and Iain Balshaw also studied.
Bracken made his England debut against the All Blacks in 1993 but his international bow ended in a nasty ankle injury as the result of a stamp from Jamie Joseph. The severity of the injury sidelined Bracken for three months but he battled back to full fitness and reclaimed his place in the England team.
He combined his career with work as a qualified solicitor until opting for a move to Saracens in 1996 as the game turned professional. He was later part of the team that won the Tetley’s Bitter Cup against Wasps in 1998 and captained the club for two seasons.
In 2003 he played in the notable victories over the Wallabies and the All Blacks and was selected by Sir Clive Woodward for the Rugby World Cup in Australia later the same year. He made four appearances during the tournament, earning his 50th cap against Wales in the quarter-finals, and gained his last cap in the semi-final victory over France.
He retired from the game in 2006 and went on to find further fame on ITV’s celebrity ice dancing competition – ‘Dancing on Ice’ – which he won in 2007. He now combines his skating commitments, having launched the ‘Kyran Bracken Ice Party’ touring production, with public speaking and his other business interests.
