Rugby players have stories to tell, it’s as simple as that
Martin Bayfield has gone from the rugby pitch to Harry Potter and Masterchef. MARION MCMULLEN finds out why he’s now ready to tackle a legendary tour
You’ve played rugby, done film, TV, public speaking and writing. Is there anything you still want to do?
I’m happy with what I’ve done in my life, but if there’s anything else, I’d love to do more work in the film industry. I don’t think it’ll ever happen as the Harry Potter thing happened, but I absolutely loved every minute of that.
If I could relive those years, I certainly would. It was so bizarre and unexpected. The crew I worked with behind the scenes were the very best of people and working with Robbie Coltrane (he played his body and stunt double and also appeared as young Hagrid) was an absolute joy.
He was a brilliant character to work with as he’s just so great to be around. He’s mischievous, funny as hell and hugely, hugely talented.
When we finished it all up I had real sense of bereavement. If the opportunity ever came to do more like that, I would leap at the chance. So if anyone needs a giant again, I’m absolutely up for it.
You balanced rugby with being a serving police officer at the start of your career. How did you manage everything?
I loved it, even though it was chaotic at times. I would finish work and go straight to a game, or the other way about. You’d feel battered and bruised, thinking ‘I really can’t face night duty here,’ but you’d just get on with it.
I was a police officer, so I took that role incredibly seriously and wouldn’t ever let anyone down.
It was crazy though. Like we won a Grand Slam in 1992 on the Saturday, hungover on the Sunday and back walking the beat on the Monday, with people beeping their horns at you and shouting ‘well played!.’
Likewise if you lost a game, you had people just coming up and saying you were s**t! I had to remind them I was in uniform a few times.
You’re about to tour the country with your Rugby Legends nights with guests like Lawrence Dallaglio, Matt Dawson and James Haskell. How did that come about?
I’ve always enjoyed spinning a yarn and, as everyone knows, rugby players all love telling stories. I do a lot of public speaking, so I’ve always thought it would be great to take what
I do and put it on a stage... just to let it breathe a bit more and give it some life.
What really made me go for it, as it’s quite a terrifying idea really, was when a few of us were contacted during the first lockdown by people asking us to record a message for their parents or grandparents who were struggling.
That stuck with me, so I thought about getting myself and some others from the world of rugby up on a stage, release the handbrake and let everyone talk. They’ve got stories to tell. It’s as simple as that.
They’re World Cup winners, they’re players who have overcome adversity, they’re players who make me laugh and will make other people laugh.
What was it like also being a Celebrity Masterchef finalist?
I loved doing that. I loved the learning process, being in some seriously good kitchens and being taught by topclass chefs.
Why would you turn down that experience or not take it seriously? I wanted to listen to them and learn from them.
Look at Phil Vickery, who’s one of the guests we have on the tour, he’s got his own restaurant now and is doing phenomenally well. He actually won Masterchef in 2011.
Your first book, A Very Tall Story, is out next month. What prompted you to finally tell your story?
It’s kind of the same reason for doing it as I had for the tour. Basically I was sitting in lockdown and realised I had a story to tell.
The aim of the book initially was to be a kind of love-letter to rugby, just exploring why I love the game so much. Then I started to realise it was
becoming more thoughtful about certain aspects, like how I felt when I got dropped from the England team, when my career came to an end, what has inspired me and what things have I done well, or where I could have done better.
It became something much more than I initially planned.
I hope that what comes through is that there’s a lot of laughter, but there’s a serious and quite emotional side to it too.
What has been your career highlight?
When we went away with the Lions in ‘93 always stands out. I loved that tour. I know we didn’t win it, but we nearly did as we lost the series 2-1.
I absolutely loved that, though. Just to be part of that history, to be able to say you were a British and Irish Lion is pretty special. I remember that tour with huge affection.
■ Martin Bayfield’s Rugby Legends tours from September 24. Tickets for all shows are on sale now at myticket.co.uk, from £30, VIP tickets including meet and greets and more, at £95