Former England skipper Will Carling has opened up about his struggles when his glittering career ended.
One of the game's most recognisable figures revealed he hid away for a year in his Covent Garden flat with the curtains closed in the 12 months after hanging up the boots.
Carling retired from the sport in January, 1998, having lifted the Five Nations Championship four times, three with Grand Slams.
There was also a Rugby World Cup final appearance in 1991 at Twickenham and England's heartbreaking loss to Australia and their iconic semi-final meeting with the All Blacks, in South Africa four years later, when Jonah Lomu ran riot.
During the latter stages of his career, Carling was targeted by the paparazzi after news broke of his friendship with Princess Diana after the two met at a Chelsea gym.
And in a revealing interview with The Guardian, ex-public schoolboy and army officer Carling admitted in the year after his career ended, he hid away from the world in a darkened flat as he couldn't handle the attention.
“I didn’t open the curtains for a year because I didn’t want to be seen," he told the newspaper.
"I needed to be alone. Even a few years later, with Lisa (his wife), I didn’t want to go out because I don’t want people judging me. It’s only when you grow up you realise people don’t really think about you.
"The vast majority move on but I was so battered I didn’t want people looking at me.”
Carling is currently employed by England coach Eddie Jones in a mentoring role to his star-studded squad.
“Some of them – especially the ex-rugby league boys – were shocked," the 54-year-old added.
"They say: ‘You’re not what I expected.’ I go: ‘No, I was this shy kid. You watch him on the pitch and there’s that arrogance. But, as captain, I’m meant to transmit this belief we’re going to win.
“This image grows that you’re ‘that’ person. You think: ‘I’ve never been like that.’ I was insecure but I really wanted to win. But that bloke who walks out on the pitch, and you see from the stand, is nowhere near what I was, or am now.
“The most reassuring thing for me getting involved with the current guys is that they’re great characters. They have the same humour.
"People say: ‘Oh, rugby’s very different now.’ Yes, they’re fitter, stronger, more skilful and paid lots of money but the raw material is pretty similar and I love that.
“I hope it will carry on being a great game. I hope the people who administer it see the opportunity to take us forward. Change is always needed.”
