James Haskell

There's only one Lawrence Dallaglio and there's only one James Haskell.

I love deejaying and got the opportunity to do a music production course online and loved it, but I am about as musically talented as a house brick.

It is difficult for people across the world to be comfortable with their sexuality. We need more education and awareness.

When I left rugby and bought my first commercial gym membership it was a shock to the system. I went in there and saw people training and thought 'I've got to get out of here and get in a proper gym.'

It must be very daunting being an individual sportsman.

As soon as you're put on a pedestal, you're easily knocked off it.

If you want to build a larger physique that actually makes you look like you lift, you need to train your shoulders, back, triceps, glutes, and legs more frequently. You probably also need to suck it up and train them harder than you ever have before if you want them to grow.

If anyone out there is mildly curious about rugby, I'd recommend a weekend spent watching the Six Nations. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

When I was about 15, I learnt that training hard doesn't get easier, you just learn to push harder. That's a powerful mentality to master.

Actions always speak louder than pre-match words.

At most grounds you're not particularly conscious of the crowd but in Cardiff, with the roof closed against a good Welsh team, the noise is impossible to ignore. It can be loud enough to put you off your game and the Welsh undoubtedly possess some of the most passionate fans in the world.

Do I respect my competition? Yeah. Do I always think that I could do a better job? Of course.

In rugby I think it is good to have a bit of a persona, a bit of a character because we are one of the last things that isn't necessarily controlled.

People think of rugby players as being tough but it's another thing to stand in front of someone and get kicked, punched, taken down. In rugby you have two contact sessions a week and you play a game on the weekend.

In my limited experience, you have to make your own decisions in life and experience things for yourself.

I reckon every player feels much the same on the eve of a Six Nations championship. We all want to finish top, win the title and do our respective countries proud in the process. We're also aware a lot of other people are seeking precisely the same thing. Pessimism and optimism collide like two ferrets in a sack.

Matches aren't won on the training field and there is no point flogging experienced campaigners unnecessarily.

If your form dips as a back-row forward, it is best to address the areas you know you're going to be heavily involved in.

As a rugby player I got into the habit of tackling without thinking. But in MMA you've got to land the right way. You can't flop. You've got to bounce back to your feet. You've got to use your sprawl.

To stay at the elite end of professional sport you need to show an awful lot of dedication.