I was a rugby legend and won 40 caps for England – now I’m a wine merchant but I remember games like they were yesterday
A RUGBY legend who won 40 caps playing for England is now a wine merchant – but he remember games like they were yesterday.
Former England and British and Irish Lions loosehead prop Andrew Sheridan, 43, retired from rugby on medical grounds in 2014.
The ex-Toulon forward, who started the 2007 World Cup final against South Africa in Paris, failed to recover from a neck injury.
Since retiring, Sheridan has swapped destructive scrummaging for a knowledge of grape varieties, regions and soil types.
The Bromley-born man, who bench pressed 225kg at his peak, took his Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) exams.
Sheridan completed his “GSCE” (Level 2) and “A Level” (Level 3) while still playing at Sale Sharks and RC Toulonnais.
He then he passed six exams over three years to clinch his Diploma.
Sheridan has now settled into life in the quiet fishing port of Carqueiranne in the south of France.
“I’m not currently involved in any rugby in particular,” he told WalesOnline.
“I did my wine exams when I finished playing so I do the odd wine event from time to time.
“I have just quite a nice, enjoyable relaxing life. It’s quite nice at the minute. I’ve done some wine work in France, but it’s quite relaxed.”
Sheridan first became interested in wine when his uncle brought “very good and interesting wines to lunch at my parents’ house”.
“However, my interest really increased when I was living in the Manchester area and enthusiastic local wine merchants suggested new wine varieties and styles to me,” he told WSET.
“I started to broaden my tastes and explore wines from outside my comfort zone and with this came a thirst for a greater understanding of wine and all the factors that account for its differences.”