Becoming the leader of the pack with Bremont

You've had a long partnership with Bremont. How did it all start?

After I retired, I needed something to replace the competitive nature of rugby, and a friend, polar explorer Alan Chambers, suggested a Transantarctic crossing expedition. I never did the trip, but I met Giles [English, Bremont co-founder] in a coffee shop to discuss it. I've always connected with British brands, and as a player I didn't have many vices except watches and cheese, so Bremont was a brilliant fit for me. It's fascinating that it's come full circle with becoming the Official Timing Partner to England Rugby and Twickenham Stadium.

Why do you think this connection works?

Time is obviously so important in sport, from back when there was a referee with a timepiece to start and stop, to now, when it's all automated. Bremont has enthusiastic, outgoing, energetic people behind the brand, and rugby is a match for that - it's an open-minded sport, so it fits well. That also goes for Bremont ambassador Tom Curry - he plays an adventurous game and Bremont is all about setting new boundaries and testing beyond endurance, as they like to say.

Do you wear a Bremont watch?

I do! I've worn my Supermarine S2000 for the past decade. I always like to say to the Bremont team, I've taken this to the North and South Pole and on numerous adventures, so it really has been tested beyond endurance - but it very nearly didn't survive a stag do in Vegas! I also really like the Bremont Rose, with its colouring and leather strap - it's such an attractive watch.

Was this summer of sport what the nation needed?

I don't know about the nation, but I needed it! The lockdowns had massive ups and downs, but the time did give us an opportunity to connect with the wider community. Whether it was on a pitch yourself or watching the TV, I think sport was an outlet people craved. The Euros, the Lions, the Olympics, the Hundred - all fantastic to watch, and they help to engage a whole new generation. Also, the push we're seeing towards supporting everyone's mental health is so important, especially after the lockdowns. My company, Mad Dog Sport, works to encourage young people to stay in education by providing a rugby programme, and we've found that teaching the importance of looking after your body, through wellbeing, training etc, has been invaluable. That's why I loved rugby - I could use my body as a tool to help the team, sometimes with pretty reckless abandon, which is how I got my Mad Dog nickname.

Do you have high hopes for England in the Autumn Internationals?

Of course! As an England fan we always hope they'll do well. I'm really excited for them. I can't wait to be back in Twickenham. It was hard to go back and watch when I first retired, as part of you feels like you could still be out there, but now I'm 43 and well past playing, I can really enjoy watching. There's so much talent in the team, and I hope we can get a full stadium back to support them.

Building up to the 2023 World Cup, it will be 20 years since your historic 2003 win for England ...

Ha! That seems like a nice marker to take the team one step further than the last World Cup, which was, of course, hard for the players and supporters to get to the final and not come away with a medal. But it shows how hard it is to win a World Cup. It doesn't matter who you beat on the way - it all comes down to delivering on match day. The team just needs to focus on themselves. Eddie Jones [England head coach] has a myriad of talent at his disposal and he will use it as he sees fit.

Back to time - do those 80 minutes fly by?

It depends on the match and how you're playing. If I was in the zone and flying, it disappeared in seconds; if you weren't, time went so much slower, chasing to claw back your performance. Big matches often come down to singular moments and knowing how to use time to your advantage is crucial to gaining any form of success. It was no different in 2003. That match proved how long 90 seconds can be - or for the Aussies, I suppose, how short it can be when you haven't got the ball!

Explore our Bremont collection in selected stores and online today at Goldsmiths.

Words by Ellie Norris. Photography by William Patterson.