How a rugby star swapped sport for coffee shops

“I had upwards of 60,000 people seeing what I did, watching every mistake you make.

“Yeah, they’d clap and see things you did well, but in a lot of ways you are naked because you are there for everyone to see, there is nowhere to hide.”

Mr Gregan adds: “In a business you will be judged on results, but not every single eyeball is going to be on what you do. But still, the ability to perform is really critical when it comes to both sport and business.”

While not every star sportsman can go on to be a hit in business,. Mr Gregan thinks many can be taught how to successfully run a company.

“One thing all elite athletes are pretty good at is getting coached, because they have to be coached, so they are good at listening to instructions.

“They are good at deciphering what is important, and what is not.”

Whether retired professional sportsmen or women go into business, or do something else with their lives, Mr Gregan says it is vital that they have a structure to their days and weeks, and a challenge to overcome, to avoid feeling cast adrift.

“It is really important to get involved in business or in a venture which provides that sort of challenge,” he says. “I like to have things on the horizon.

“I’m big on shared experience with good people, so you work hard but you have a bit of laughter along the way. Otherwise, what do you live for?”