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Wales Online
Sport
Ben James

The new-found happiness of Lee Byrne and what happened after that Rob Howley bombshell in his autobiography

"The plan now is to do The Byrne Supremacy , then The Byrne Ultimatum a couple of years after," jokes Lee Byrne.

"I'll have about four or five of them!"

It's been nearly two years since the former Wales star released his sensational autobiography The Byrne Identity and, despite the play on the name of the Jason Bourne film series Byrne has no plans to rack up as many sequels as actor Matt Damon.

One was quite enough for the Grand Slam winner.

"I think I'll retire after one," he adds. "It was good feedback I had from it. I don't think I had any negative feedback to be honest... apart from Rob Howley."

When it was released in late 2017, the book made the rugby world sit up because of its allegations of bullying against the Wales attack coach. You can read those claims here.

What was the fallout, if any, for Byrne?

"I wasn't called in as such but I went to meet Gareth Davies, the WRU chairman, just to give him my feedback and tell him what went on. I didn't hear anything else on it."

Yet the chapter on Howley wasn't the only revelation Byrne made in his book. Indeed, he was more anxious revealing some of his personal battles than things that had taken place on the training ground.

Even at the time of writing the book, you sensed the 39-year-old still wasn't fully over his demons.

But in the past year new additions to Byrne's life have helped him find a real sense of happiness.

"Obviously I was happy before, but it's only the last six or seven months that I've truly been really happy," he explained.

The first addition was the birth of his daughter Jemima with wife Andrea - who arrived, quite fittingly, on February 15th earlier this year - with 15 being the jersey number in which Byrne made so many rugby memories.

"It was either going to be Valentine's Day or the 15th so I didn't mind which one," he explained.

"It was a nice number to be born on!

"It's a brilliant experience. The last four months has gone so quickly, she's changing so quickly. It's a dream come true."

Lee Byrne with his daughter Jemima (Instagram: @byrney15)

It's also helped change Byrne's outlook on life.

"Everything you want to do now is for your daughter and wife," he said.

"Financial security, the best schools - that's all in your head. Everything is for them now.

"When you're on your own maybe you can be a little selfish, but with children it's about different priorities."

There's also a new business on the go for Byrne. For a while after retiring, Byrne didn't know what he wanted to do next.

He admits you never recapture the feeling of playing, you just learn to live without it.

"I didn't have a clue what the worth was after rugby. It's a big world out there and I didn't have a clue initially. They're tough times but they don't last forever."

His new venture, BridgePort360, is a construction contracting and management service which has Byrne bringing his rugby-minded approach to business development.

There's a simple explanation for the name, too.

"Obviously, I’m from Bridgend, my business partner is from Newport, and the 360 stands for the JV partnership we have done with a Company called TPS360 - so that's where that all comes from!

"It's going really well. I'm not sure how I've come into the construction industry but it's worked out.

"My day-to-day work revolves around using my connections from rugby, although my business partners would say it's just playing golf!

"It's great learning from people who have been in this business. I'm learning every day.  

"I know how important having a great team around you is, and I feel I’m lucky to have such a good group of people around me in my business.

"I'm maybe not as clued up on the building aspects as my partner, but I bring a winning mentality and team-work from my rugby days which never leaves you. Hopefully that stands me in good stead.

"It's going well having my own company. I'm enjoying it so I don't want to branch out.

"I have enough on my plate."

"I didn't have a clue what the worth was after rugby. It's a big world out there and I didn't have a clue initially." (Richard Williams/WalesOnline)

Indeed, Byrne does have a far bit on his plate.

Juggling a new business and a new baby is no mean feat - but it's a challenge that he has relished.

"It is hard sometimes. I wish I could spend more time with Andrea and Jemima, but it's only short-term as we're doing better now as a business. Andrea has been great throughout.

"The first four months were hectic but you have to put the time in.

"But working 9-to-5 was great for me. It might sound silly but it's been better for me.

"As a rugby player, you're hanging around and it drags, but when you're busy with work, time flies. And we're starting to get the rewards now."

Byrne has no desire to get back into rugby through coaching, but having hung up his boots a few years ago now, does he view his career in a different light?

"I went to New Zealand for the Lions tour with the supporters and you see how much it means to them - that's what's changed," he said.

"They save up for eight years. You never see that as a player.

"They saved money to see me play. You just think 'wow'.

"You don't appreciate it when you're in the middle of it. You realise not many do it and you're one of them.

"As time goes on, you appreciate it even more. You try to keep level-headed about it and others make a bigger deal about it than you do, but it's pretty special to look back on."

The Fab Four of Shane Williams, Lee Byrne, James Hook and Mike Phillips (Lee Byrne)

So too are the friendships forged in the sport.

Byrne may not see his former team-mates as often as he used to, but technology has helped to soften the blow.

"WhatsApp is the best way, but when you see them it's like you've never been away," he said, admitting that the group chat involving Mike Phillips, James Hook, Shane Williams and himself is indeed called 'The Fab Four'.

"It's hard to keep in touch but there's a special bond."

Of those 'Fab Four', Byrne isn't the only one adjusting to parenthood. Phillips has also recently become a dad, although the two haven't yet swapped parenting tips.

It's good to see that Byrne is truly content with his additions to his family and working life.

The next question is, naturally, what of the future?

"Perspectives change," he said. "Everything you want to do is for her.

"It's a new era for me work-wise and on the family front.

"Everything I've done, I want to be the best. So for the business, we want to grow it as big as we can.

"We want to have a big turnover and healthy profit. We're planning for next year now.

"I also want to be the best for my daughter and my wife.

"How that translates to my first sports day as a parent? I'll probably be pushing the other parents over to win!"

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