Style file: Jeremy Guscott

Jeremy Guscott, a former England rugby player, is considered one of the most thrilling centres ever to grace the game. His smooth running style and speed earned him 65 caps for his national rugby union side and eight for the British Lions. He was described as the "prince of centres" by the former Engand coach Clive Woodward. His drop goal in 1997 sealed the series for the Lions, a decisive win against the South African Springboks, then world champions, on home turf. Guscott was always a talented sportsman, playing both football and rugby in his hometown of Bath. He chose rugby in part because of the culture of respect and sportsmanship. He is in Dubai for nine weeks working as a commentator on the Rugby World Cup for OSN Sports. "I'm not doing anything very different to what I would be doing at home," he says. "But it's better here because I've got sunshine and golf courses and my brother lives here, which is an added bonus." Guscott is divorced with three children, all girls, none of whom is pursuing a sporting career. "The eldest, Imogen, tried rugby once," he says. "But she decided she didn't like it after her first tackle. I don't blame her." He tells Helena Frith Powell about life's essentials.

The Rugby World Cup runs in New Zealand until October 23 and is showing on OSN Sports 1 and 2

JEREMY'S WORLD

THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE IS WAS EVER GIVEN WAS... Stop talking so much and listen. I was 19 at the time and had a pretty high opinion of myself. It taught me a lesson. MY GREATEST FEAR IS... sharks. They're the king of the water, but thankfully I think I would faint before the shark got to me. MY DEFINING MOMENT WAS... becoming a father. I was there at the birth of Imogen and I will never forget holding her. I felt an overwhelming urge to protect I'd never felt before. I'M AT MY HAPPIEST... on a sofa on a Sunday with my girlfriend, watching a film. As long as it's James Bond! MY AMBITION IS... to play single-figure handicap golf (Guscott plays off 10). I'll achieve that next year. WHAT DRIVES ME ON IS... when you've been a sportsman you've got a lot of self-drive. You've got a job to do and to do it you need some serious motivation. MY MOST TREASURED POSSESSION IS... my eyesight or my teeth. BEING STYLISH MEANS... being yourself.