A new and certainly very interesting experience for me last night when I attended a Rugby Business Network event in Leeds addressed by none other than England rugby union head coach Stuart Lancaster.
The Rugby Business Network is a not-for-profit organisation, set up in 2010 by digital entrepreneur and ex-rugby pro Colm Hannon, with the mission of "encouraging and celebrating the application of rugby’s values to business." It now welcomes upwards of 25,000 members to its regular events held in more than 50 cities around the world.
Yesterday evening's event featured a particularly impressive 45-minute multimedia presentation from Coach Lancaster about his approach to drilling's England's finest. He then took questions from the floor. If you're a fan of singing Swing Low Sweet Chariot at an annoying volume level, you'll be thrilled to learn that Stuart is confident of building an England team capable of winning next year's Rugby World Cup, and much else besides. An an Ireland rugby fan, I am equally confident that we have a better group of players than he has. But that's all part of the fun.
You can find out more about the Rugby Business Network, including details of upcoming events, by logging onto www.therugbybusinessnetwork.com
I might even see you at a future gathering.