What started out as a hobby to keep fit for Dan Connolly has now turned into a trip to Malaysia to play in a World Cup.
The Welshman used to play for Bournemouth Rugby Club under former coach David Dunn, before becoming backs coach during their rise into National Two South.
With the club winning promotion back into the fourth tier of English rugby following a successful campaign this season, the ex-London Welsh player is now travelling to Malaysia to play Touch.
He said: “I played at Bournemouth for a season then the following season they asked me to be the backs coach so I did a couple of seasons as we went up into National Two South.
“Then I just started getting a bit old and wanted to take a step back from rugby so started playing touch rugby and there were different groups in Bournemouth doing touch rugby.
“I started playing with them just with the intention of doing it for a bit of fun and then was asked to do the different regional touch rugby.
“Then I was asked to be in the England squad so what was supposed to be a bit of a hobby to keep fit, meant I actually ended up getting into the England team and then I did the Euros last year.”
Connolly will play for the Men’s Over 35s team at the tournament, and will face Fiji on April 30 first, before matches against Australia and Cook Islands on May 1, then New Zealand and USA on May 2.
He qualifies to play for England because he was born in this country and has English parents.
But he grew up in Wales and says there is a mixture of lots of different nationalities in the squad – which has helped with the team bonding.
He added: “I consider myself British because I have English parents and was born in England but grew up in Wales.
“I suppose when you play for Wales, you have to sign a contract to say you will support them – and I suppose pledge allegiance to Wales.
“There is a bit of banter in the team with a couple of guys from Wales, one from South Africa, and a couple of guys from Australia so the heritage of the team is pretty mixed.
“But it is a great group of guys and we all get along really well and are good friends.”