RFTG Reporter Lisa has brought us the incredibly sexy David Strettle - Up Close and Personal. Enjoy!

Firstly I want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview and answering my questions.Ok, so why Rugby?  What/when made you decide that this was for you? Inspired you to take it up? 
  
I don’t think it’s a case of you ever really decide to do it, it kind of just happens. I’ve played rugby since the age of 5 and played various sports throughout my childhood, after school I went to university in Sheffield and playing at rotherham, this was on a semi pro basis so was getting paid a little. As I progressed through uni I got paid a bit more each year and when quins came in and offered to sign me as  I finished uni it only then really became a financially viable option to persue rugby as an actual career, if quins hadn’t signed me I would have probably used my degree and gone down a different career path

And whats a typical day like for you?

A typical day starts with me pressing snooze several times as I’m not a morning person, grabbing something quick to eat then heading off to the gym with the team. Then I go to the club and have a proper breakfast and wait for the morning session which will usually be units (backs/forward). After that we’ll have a team meeting. In this we’ll discuss defence or tactics etc or I’ll fall asleep on the back row and Ugo will keep watch in case JK (John Kingston, Quins head coach)  notices! After my nap we’ll have a team session, then shower and feed and head home, evenings will consist of eating and dependent on how hard the days been either relaxing or meeting up with a few of the lads who don’t have to get permission off their girlfriends (Ugo and Danny) in Richmond or Kingston.
 
Sounds like a good day to me, if not pretty full.What motivates you?
 
I’m sure it’s the same in most walks of life but in sport you’ll very rarely get to the top without getting a few knock backs on the way.  It's these knock-backs that give me that extra reason to succeed. It’s a way of proving that although one person may not believe in you, if you believe in yourself enough, then you’ll get enough chances to succeed and it's just up to you then to take them.

So, when you first joined Quins, in a relative short time your obvious talents were spotted and you made the England squad. Must have been a dream and you got your first cap and made a try scoring debut. Would you say to date that is your career highlight? How much did it all mean to you?

To go from making my debut for Quins and then playing for England within 6 months was amazing, I have been very lucky and represented my country at various levels I have also been very unlucky and missed out on world cups and a good few caps through injuries.  However, if I were offered this 4 years ago I would have snatched their hands off, so sometimes you just have to take a step back and put things into perspective. With regards to targets I actually have none apart from, as Jason Robinson said, 'it's not about being the best player in the world its about being the best player you can be'. I completely agree, if I achieve this then I’m sure I’ll retire from rugby having achieved a lot and with a lot of great memories.
 
You have had obvious thrust into stardom, not just with rugby supporters, but with everyone who suddenly knowing who you were.  On a personal level, how did you cope or deal with fame and everyone knowing who you were and wanting a piece of you?

The only way I can describe being recognized is it’s funny and embarrassing. It's very flattering when people ask for your autograph or ask for a photo. I think the only thing that changes with time is how well you hide your embarressment.  Rugby is such a banter rich sport that it isn’t possible to start believing in your own hype as the boys are always there to give you a bit of stick and keep you level headed.
 
Bless. Right then, has to be mentioned, the foot, the injury to your metatarsal . Terrible set back considering where you were at that time.  It kept you out of a lot of games last season and before - big games I am sure you would of loved being a part of. How is it now? All 100%? Holding out?
 
It still gives me a bit of grief every now and again but all the x-rays and scans show its healed fine and due to the whopping big screw in there, shouldn’t break again (touch wood!)  As I mentioned though you have to look at the bigger picture, I’m not actually that injury prone (not my words but those of the physio’s) its just that my injury (my foot) has been well documented and it happened whilst being on international duty. I actually got told the other day that last year, a season when people would have thought I missed a lot of games, I actually played just one less game than Ugo in the premiership. 14 I think, so hopefully if the foot holds up I can play many more.
 
I hope it holds up too. How did you deal with it all? Being unable to play must have been frustrating? Seeing as where you were career-wise prior to it and so on.  Is the England training regime that different to Quins? I ask as England seemed to keep, to want of better word, breaking you? (the foot I meant by that)
 
I think it's just a coincidence. The first time it broke we  were training very hard and I was doing a lot of heavy loading running/sprinting/plyometrics) prior to the world cup and this is why it eventually gave way. The second time I was actually stamped on against Wales, so it could have happened at any time. The third time was due to the fact that the bone hadn’t healed after the second injury and it was gradually getting weaker.  Again you just take it on the chin. I’m sure I’ll look back and think 'what if' but not many rugby players go through a career with out a few injuries.

I personally belive you dealt with it all extremly well.  Now you are back on track, playing well, a good run of games under your belt and back so it seems on the England radar.  That must be a huge boost to be named in the elite squad again after so many set backs last season? How disappointed are you at not making the starting line up for Autum Internationals?
 

Since making my debut for England, whenever I have been fit I have been selected for England squad so my aim is to just stay fit, concentrate on playing my best for Quins and I’m sure the rest will take care of itself

With other Quins lads in the squad (England), Ugo (Monye), Danny (Care), Minty (Nick Easter), Jordon (Turner-Hall) and Robbo (Chris Robshaw) getting look in over Summer. Others in Saxons and many in U20's squad it certainly is excellent stuff for the club right.

Yes, it's testament to what Deano started and what JK and the rest of the ageing coaches! are doing at Quins. The aim is to play an expansive and exciting type of rugby (even if the ball doesn’t always make it to the wing). A form of rugby which allows all the players to showcase what they are all about.  When the players are allowed to do this then you cannot not notice the talent of the Quins boys and for that matter the talent of many English youngsters at other clubs who like to play expansive rugby Northampton (Foden/Geraghty) Irish (Lamb) etc 

So, do you have any pre-match nerves or rituals?
 
I think everyone gets nerves, I think they’re just as sign that you’re doing something that means something, I guess when I stop getting them I’ll probably hang up my boots….As for rituals…nope, I just turn up and spend the 1hr 30mins before a game gradually building up to kick off. As long as I have my boots I’m ready to play, although I still forget them sometimes! No jokes!
 
HaHa no wonder so many different coloured ones appear. Tell us your best/most memorable childhood memory?
 
It’s have to be holidaying in Weymouth every summer when I was little, Half my family live down there so spending 3-4 weeks at a bustling seaside town every summer when you’re little was amazing
 
 
I was born in Weymouth, spent Summer holidays there as kid myself so I know what you're saying there. What three words best describe you?

Very very funny
 
Good answer, bit of a cheat though. Let us in on something we don't already know about you. A hidden talent or exotic pet or some such.

I speak fluent latin, my mum had to learn it when she was young and taught me and my brother when we were little, I don’t get many chances to converse in my second tongue though! 
 
 
(Sexy!) Anymore plans for modelling shoots? After Cosmo (wink*)  I know a lot of ladies would love more shots like that. We would love perhaps a Quin's calender. After all, five of you have posed for Cosmo so only need to pursuade another seven to make a calender. What do you reckon?

 
The boys all love to get their kit off, especially our new recruit Nils Mordt, however to prevent people knowing this we always say its for charity so affiliate the calendar with a worthy cause and I’m sure the likes of Cerri jones and John Andreas will be keen
 
 
We will get onto that then, it is in writing now. Finally, what's the best bit of advice you've received and given?

 
My dad always used to tell me two things…'never tie a knot with your tongue that you can’t undo with your teeth' and 'the least said the soonest mended'. I think that was his way of telling me to stop arguing with my brother!
 
Very deep, but still words of wisdom. Before you go, do you want to tell us (being this is a site for rugby girlies) about the La Manga Superstar Sevens 2010? What is your involvement? We would love to know all about it.

Well although I do love playing rugby, sometimes we all need something else to focus on and as I don’t like playing computer games which is what a lot of the lads spend their free time doing, I decided to do something a little different. Whilst over in Spain I realized that the resort I was staying at would be amazing for a rugby 7’s tournament. I then thought that due to the facilities available that instead of just rugby  I’d  organize a sports weekend.  Basically there are 4 tournaments (Rugby 7’s, Womens Rugby 7’s, Netball and Vets Rugby 7’s) which all run alongside each other between the 11-13th of June 2010)  The venue is the beautiful La Manga Club resort, the basic idea is to get loads of people/sports teams together to play sport in the day then party hard at night, we’ve already had lots of teams book but obviously the more the merrier! The website is superstarsevens.com.  Having been lucky enough to have played in similar tournaments all over the world, I know how much fun they can be when done well so I  can’t wait to organize one of my own. All the lads can’t wait as they’ll still be in 'off season' and so will be able to enjoy the evenings guilt free!
 
I am sure it will be a huge success. Thank you so much Strets for your time. All the very best for the rest of the season with Quins and England and please, never change.

Some quickies now if you don't mind?

FAVE THINGS
 
1.    Aftershave?                       Boss Bottled                                   
 
2.    Colour?                             Electric Blue
 
3.    Time of year?                     June            (Summer then?)
 
4.    Drink?                               Vodka
 
5.    Food?                               Vodka jelly
 
6.    TV Show?                         The Wire
 
7.    Wrestler?                           Ultimate Warrior

8.    Film?                                  The Goonies
 
9.    Book?                                Wheres Wally            (Good book hehe)
 
10.    Music?                             Motown/hip hop/ Student Cheese
 
 
QUICK FIRE
 
1.    Beer or Spirits?                            Depends whos buying         (seconded)
 
2.    Comedy or Thriller?                     Thriller 
 
3.    Blond or Brunette?                       One of each            (greedy!)
 
4.    Sweet or Savory?                         Savory
 
5.    Boxers or Briefs?                         Commando                  (cheat!)
 
6.    X Factor or Strictly?                    Pins in my eyes            (Ouch!)
 
7.    Night in or Night out?                   Night out
 
8.    Black or White?                           White
 
9.    Facebook or Twitter?                   Facebook
 
10.    Day or Night?                             Night