Former England World Cup rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson has joined fast-growing national Chartered Financial Planning firm Attivo as a 'lifestyle ambassador.'

He will coach the Attivo team on how to have the best and most open conversations with clients.

He will also share video content with Attivo clients to help them explore what matters most to them based on his own experiences, as well as contributing to Attivo Life Magazine.

Clients of the Cheltenham-based firm will also be able to meet Mr Wilkinson at a family day where he will run a coaching session for children and grandchildren.

Mr Wilkinson had a long and illustrious career in rugby union and is one of the world's best known rugby players. He was a fly-half for Newcastle Falcons and Toulon for many years but is best known for representing England and the British & Irish Lions. He is most famed for his stunning last minute winning drop goal in the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final.

Mr Wilkinson said: “The next moment is forever undecided. So, it’s really important to have faith and trust in ourselves and in life when it comes to creating the future we desire.

"Talking to people that understand your particular challenges or aspirations, and who have the skills and experience to identify the opportunities and set out clear pathways forward, is invaluable. However, that’s often not as easy as it sounds.

“The truth is that it’s when people sense that you are truly there for them, that they matter, belong, and are valued, that boundaries are removed, defences are dropped - amazing things happen. Helping planners to inspire these sorts of connections and have those big conversations can be transformative for all involved. Attivo puts the wellbeing of people at the heart of the company and its service to clients. To me this is very exciting. I can’t wait to get started.”

Stephen Harper, chairman at Attivo, said Mr Wilkinson’s experience will be invaluable to both the team and their clients.

He said: “Few people in the world have the experience, perspective, and insight as Jonny. Not only did he change how rugby is played, he was also a pioneer when it came to the relationship between high performance and holistic wellbeing. He continues to work with some of the biggest sportspeople on the planet on how they think and feel about things and his take on life is completely aligned with how we view our role with our clients.

“We have huge ambitions for Attivo as we look to continue our growth strategy. And central to that is delivering a truly exemplary and innovative service to our clients. Our new resident Lifestyle Ambassador is a case in point. Jonny’s attitude and approach to life is truly inspiring, and we’re incredibly excited to have him on board.”

Attivo is a Chartered Financial Planning firm with a focus on lifestyle planning.

Attivo has acquired over 40 Financial Planning businesses since launch in 2005. The firm is headquartered in Cheltenham, with offices in London, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, Darlington and Portsmouth.