A new regular feature for Dads Stuff, with famous Dads talking to us about their life and their experiences of being a Dad. First up, rugby royalty!
David Sole captained Scotland a record 25 times, earning 44 international caps for the proud nation. He also lead them to the 1990 Grand Slam, part of a stunning rugby career with many highlights. Dads Stuff caught up with the father of four, to talk rugby, life after sport, whisky and being a Dad.
Dads Stuff – You had a long and distinguished rugby career, what was the highlight?
David Sole – I was fortunate that there were quite a few! It was a real honour to be selected for the 1989 Lions tour of Australia and to be part of a winning team – the only Lions side ever to have won a series after losing the first test! But that was topped by our exploits as a Scotland team the following season when we won the Grand Slam – as if that wasn’t enough, we then became only the third side in the history of New Zealand rugby to tour the country and remain undefeated in the provincial matches. That was a great tour of a wonderful country.
Dads Stuff – What have you been doing since you retired from rugby?
David Sole – My day job is as an executive coach. I work with leaders across a wide range of industries and sectors and try and help them to become more effective. I’ve been doing this 16 years now and have built up a reasonably good reputation in the industry. I am also involved in a business that runs executive education programmes for aspiring CEOs, called the School for CEOs. I also work as a brand ambassador for Balvenie Malt Whisky – a labour of love!
Dads Stuff – Your children have all excelled in sport, have your experiences helped them to reach those heights?
David Sole – We always encouraged our children to participate in as many sports as possible but the last thing I wanted to do was for them to feel a sense of obligation and follow my footsteps into the world of rugby. As parents, we have tried to be as supportive as possible and to give all of our children every opportunity to do what they are passionate about. We consider ourselves incredibly fortunate that they have done so well and would support them just as much as if they were playing a much lower standard.
Dads Stuff – As a Dad who has played international sport, how do you cope watching your children compete? (David’s daughter Gemma and son Chris have both represented Scotland at Netball and Cricket respectively).
David Sole – I adore watching my children play and am incredibly proud of them all – it has given me a real sense of perspective on how my own parents would have felt about me playing. If I had the choice of playing myself or watching my children, I’d take the latter option every time. It can be nerve racking however….whether it is watching Gemma shoot for goal at netball or Tom walk to the crease to bat – you always want them to succeed!
Dads Stuff – What advice would you give to parents who’s children want to pursue a professional sports career?
David Sole – You only get one chance to pursue sport as a career, so support them in every way you can. If they don’t make it to the top level, at least they will be able to look back in later life and reflect on the fact that at least they gave it their very best – they shouldn’t have any regrets.
Dads Stuff – Your an ambassador for a whisky brand. How did that come about and is it as good a job as it sounds?
David Sole – It’s a great job! I went to school 9 miles from the distillery and worked in the industry for 11 years and it was the job I always aspired to! As a Scot, talking about the industry and drinking whisky….what’s not to like?! It came about when I was running a leadership event for the senior leaders in William Grant & Sons and I had a conversation with the person who ran all of their brand ambassadors – I asked him for a job and he said ‘OK’! It was the toughest job interview ever!
Dads Stuff – The Six Nations is almost upon us. Who will win? Can Scotland do it? And will the Eddie Jones England winning run ever end?
David Sole – England are undoubtedly favourites, given their form in the autumn and during the course of 2016. Sadly for the rest of the countries, they have learnt how to win tight matches which doesn’t bode well for the rest of the countries competing! Scotland look stronger than they have done for a number of years, but have a tough opening weekend against the Irish. I think the tournament will be decided between England and Ireland on the final weekend in Dublin – and I don’t think there will be a Grand Slam. Eddie Jones has transformed England but his run has to come to an end at some point – I’d love Scotland to be the team that does it!
Follow David on Twitter here and keep up to date with his business, whisky and of course rugby.