Since professionalism, some clubs have disappeared, your West Hartlepools, Coventrys, Richmonds. Worcester are in trouble now. But Leinster, Munster, Connacht, Ulster, they will never go bust. Since retirement Martin has equally moved seamlessly into broadcasting - commentating for the BBC and Radio 5 Live, hosting Five's NFL coverage as well as The World's Strongest Man and most recently covering the Rugby World Cup 2011 for ITV. In March 2012, Martin was confirmed as a regular presenter on BBC1's long-running Crimewatch, thus cementing his reputation as an accomplished and trusted studio presenter. You might want to do a headcount," I told the RFU press guy. "You’re a man down" It would be almost two hours before a taxi turned up. Haskell had every right to lose his s--- in that moment, but despite the frustrations of the afternoon, he was great fun.

In 2022, Martin released his memoir, A Very Tall Story. Described as a “hilarious and, at times, moving and soul-searching”, Martin’s book explores his time as an amateur and then professional rugby player, stunt double, and TV presenter. Martin was involved in ITV’s coverage of the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup; initially as their England reporter but then supported more widely as a pitch-side reporter across all major tournament fixtures.

Add in some smart coaching appointments you’ve made at key times – Michael Cheika, Joe Schmidt, Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster with Leinster – (Warren) Gatland, (Eddie) O’Sullivan, (Declan) Kidney, Schmidt and Andy Farrell with Ireland. But as soon as you wear a Lions jersey that links you to the Welsh, the Irish and the Scots and that is an incredibly powerful connection that lasts a lifetime.”

For Bayfield, the Lions continues to be a truly unique sporting institution which unites people in a way few other teams can. Martin was a finalist in BBC One’s Celebrity MasterChef 2018, continuously wowing the judges, John Torode and Gregg Wallace, with his imaginative dishes and culinary knowledge. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was inevitable that Ireland would come good because you need good coaches and structures for it to work,” says Bayfield. “But when you look at the professional game now, it’s practically tailor made to suit Ireland more than anyone. Without Ireland realising it or planning for it, they have got the perfect structure to succeed.He’s been involved in the coverage of the 2011 and 2015 rugby world cups, initially as ITV’s England reporter but then as a major tournament pitch-side reporter. He has continued this role throughout the Six Nations tournaments. He has also been their main presenter for the BT World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge. He also has experience presenting for BT Sport’s Premiership Rugby and European Rugby Union tournaments and for shows, including Rugby Tonight for the channel. Martin is also well known for serving as the body and stunt double of the much-loved giant Rubeus Hagrid, played by Robbie Coltrane, in the entire Harry Potter franchise. He has also appeared as a cyclops in the film Wrath of the Titans. For Bayfield, selection for the Lions was not something he ever expected, nor was it something he dreamt of as a child, heralding from a family with no history in rugby. She says she has lost count of the number of times she has mentioned in conversation that her brother played for the Lions and people respond, ‘oh yes, the 93 Lions, that was a hell of a Tour.’ The previous week he’d seen Elwood dictate the terms and conditions of Ireland’s Five Nations win over Wales and found something about this player, this team, this country deeply appealing.

To lose such an experienced figure was a major blow for a touring party that was already starting to become blighted by strained relations in the camp. It almost led to a mini-revolt by the squad against the Lions administrators.In 2012, he was confirmed as a regular presenter on BBC One’s long-running show Crimewatch (2012-2016). Throughout his broadcasting career, he has also covered the NFL and World’s Strongest Man (2006-) and worked as a rugby correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live. In 2013, BT Sport acquired the exclusive rights to the Aviva Premiership. Bayfield (along with his ITV co-presenter Craig Doyle) moved to the new channel and he now works as a presenter, pundit and pitchside reporter. [ citation needed] Personal life [ edit ]

I hate to see Steve Thompson the way he is and I mention him because I know him. I don't want to see anyone like that. Whilst playing for the Bedford club, Martin was selected for the England tour to Australia and Fiji in the summer of 1991. That can change. They have to be up there with France as favourites to win a World Cup which is a tag no one in Ireland may want.”What didn’t come out, however, was the fact that Haskell ended up being stranded on the beach. He’d just finished doing an interview with us and, when we looked around, all the cars had gone. We were in the middle of nowhere, with no taxis around and not even a phone signal. He gained a creditable 31 international caps, playing in the 1992 and 1995 Grand Slam sides. He was a part of the 1995 World Cup Squad to play against South Africa and was selected for five out of six tests. Martin also played in all three tests on the British Lions tour to New Zealand.