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Former England Rugby Captain Chris Robshaw joins Matt Haycox for a raw and honest conversation about leadership, resilience, and the brutal reality of life after professional sport. From overcoming severe dyslexia as a child to leading his country at Twickenham, Chris shares how the discipline of a high-performance athlete translates into the world of business and entrepreneurship.
We dive deep into his evolution as a leader, moving from an insecure, “stick-oriented” captain to one rooted in empathy and culture building. Chris also opens up about the financial realities of rugby versus football, admits to “gambler” investment mistakes—like a failed film tax scheme—and discusses how he is now building a new career through proactive networking and his charity work.
What We Discuss:
- Overcoming Early Struggles: How battling dyslexia and losing his father at a young age drove Chris to find structure and confidence through sport.
- Leadership Evolution: The transition from a dictator-style captain to a “carrot-oriented” leader who prioritizes understanding people and team culture.
- The Reality of Retirement: Dealing with the loss of identity, the inability to replace the “buzz” of the stadium, and the mental challenge of starting over.
- Financial Honesty: Debunking myths about rugby wealth, the danger of investing for tax breaks, and why Chris doesn't consider himself a “finance expert”.
- Networking for Business Growth: How Chris proactively used his platform during his playing days to open doors in the wine and insurance industries.
- Resilience Mindset: Why success isn't about a secret remedy, but the ability to “keep turning up” through the ups and downs.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction – Dyslexia, childhood tragedy, and finding rugby.
(11:54) The Debut – Overcoming fear and learning to be in the moment.
(18:23) Captaincy – Leading England with only one cap and learning from mistakes.
(27:00) The “Betrayal” – A painful lesson on trust with a coach.
(34:00) Moving On – Life in San Diego and the decision to retire.
(45:22) Money Talk – Rugby salaries, bad investments, and financial reality. (52:00) Networking – Building a business network before the spotlight fades. (01:06:00) Future Goals – The Robshaw Foundation and looking ahead.
Resources & Links:
- Chris Robshaw: Instagram: @chrisrobshaw
- Buzzsprout/Podcast: Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts: https://strippingoffwithmatthaycox.buzzsprout.com
- Follow Stripping Off on YouTube
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