Simon Halliday. England rugby international, Chairman of European Professional Club Rugby, CEO of the Sporting Wine Club

Simon has had a distinguished career on and off the rugby pitch. With 23 caps for England he can be considered both unlucky with injuries and the centre pairing of Carling and Guscott at the time. In the amateur era combining an international rugby career with a career in the City wasn't easy and Simon wrote about this with his book City Centre in 2013.

Blessed with a business brain and elite sporting ability, both at rugby and cricket by the way, Simon has combined these assets to now steer the European Professional Club Rugby body with its showpiece tournaments the European Champions Cup and the European Challenge Cup whose delayed finals take place later in October. Sadly they are to be played behind closed doors in Bristol but are indeed two mouth watering Anglo French encounters between Exeter and Racing 92 for the Champions Cup and Bristol v Toulon for the Challenge Cup. They would have taken place in Marseille in May in normal times and the thought of the south of France being invaded by half of Englands West Country is a delightful thought. Perhaps next year as Marseille will now host the 2021 finals weekend.

In addition to this Simon has created and grown the Sporting Wine Club which, as its name suggests, brings together sport and wine rather cleverly. As a spectator great sporting events are best accompanied by a glass or two of something equally spectacular and Simon has brought together these two hugely important elements with some fine wines produced by some stellar sportspeople that for now sadly we have to drink at home until we are allowed back into stadiums. Enjoy this 45 minute chat with a glass of red is my advice.