Former Wasps and rugby international star Lawrence Dallaglio reveals his tips for this year’s RBS Six Nations Championship and talks about his charity bike ride for Sport Relief…

Ireland are the Grand Slam Champions and you said it’s hard to look beyond them this year. Do any other teams stand a chance of winning?
Yes they’ve got such a strong team and their leadership qualities are there. I think Brian Carney, Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell are going to be key players. I’m also looking forward to seeing how the French captain, Thierry Dusautoir, can lead by example. For England, I want to see how the whole team play, but it’s great to see Ricky Fluety back and in the side. If England do well, he’s going to be a key influencer on that side of things. I always like watching Mike Roberts play for Wales and there’s one or two new players in the Welsh line-up too. So there are lots to look out for across the whole Championship.

As a former player – you won four Six Nations tournaments with England – how will the teams be feeling?
I don’t think anyone will be thinking too much about the whole tournament. The focus will be on the first game and making sure they win. So much can happen over the course of the tournament, but it’s important to get off to a good start. It can be a desperate anti-climax if you lose your first game. The players get on your back, the press get on your back and your fans get on your back. It becomes a lot more hard work. Of course if you win your first game, you’re buzzing and you’ve got everything to play for.

Do you regret giving up your playing days?
No – if I hadn’t given them up, someone would have given them up for me! I think to be able to do it on my own terms was very nice. I had a lovely run at playing not only for Wasps, but for England as well. I had 12 years in the England team. I don’t think you can ever get too much of a good thing, but it was definitely my time to go.

During the Championship, you’re going to be cycling almost 3000km to raise £1m for Sport Relief and your own Dallaglio Foundation. How far will you ride each day?
On average about 140km a day and all strategically placed because we’re doing a lot of them early on in the ride, and then maybe take the foot off the peddle a little bit in Ireland. Every day is going to be a very tough day, but we’re really looking forward to it and I really urge anyone who feels strongly about any of the charities, to try to donate. Just check out the website and get on board.

Are your family – wife Alice and children Ella, 12, Josie, 10 and eight-year-old Enzo – going to support you along the route?
Yes, although I don’t think they’re looking to do much cycling. They will do a bit of supporting though.

Do they share your passion for sport?
They have to because being married to a rugby player or having a dad as a rugby player, they have to share your passion for sport. Mind you, they probably thought I’d given it up…

Donate to Dallaglio Cycle Slam

By Elaine Penn