FORMER England star Andrew Sheridan swapped rugby to be a wine expert and songwriter.
The 43-year-old once played as a prop for the likes of Sale Sharks and Toulon.
Sheridan was also capped 40 times by England and featured in the 2005 and 2009 Lions tours.
The retired star was known for his strength and featured heavily in the 2007 Rugby World Cup alongside Jonny Wilkinson as Brian Aston's side lost to France in the final.
Sheridan featured for the full 80 minutes in the showpiece in Paris and even won man of the match in the quarter-final victory over Australia.
But injuries impacted his career and while away from rugby he developed a passion for music.
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While out with a shoulder problem at the Sharks 13 years ago, Sheridan passed the time by recording a 16-song album.
It was titled "Where We Go From Here" and the prop showed off his talents on the guitar, piano and drums with his songs being accompanied by vocals.
Sheridan's coach at the time Dave Swanton admitted he was "pleasantly surprised" when he heard the tracks.
The 6ft 5in scrummager hung up his boots in 2014 and now finds himself in a very different field of work.
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Sheridan now lives in France's Var region and owns an independent wine store.
Shoppers can pop in to buy bottles and get advice in fluent French from the man who was once able to bench-press 35st.
Sheridan has also set up a venture with a friend putting on wine, golf and rugby tours in the region.
He cleverly planned ahead taking his Wine and Spirit Education Trust exams while still playing and then passed six further tests in three years after retirement to clinch a diploma.
Sheridan told the Daily Mail: "I was quite motivated to do it.
"I like a drink like a lot of people, and still like a long lunch, but I wanted a greater understanding of it and a qualification to back it up.
"I get every bit as much fun out of wine as I did rugby. I enjoyed rugby very much, this is completely different. It's not necessarily about knocking back drinks all the time.
"Wine is all about balance, like rugby. The acidity, the alcohol, the tannins, everything needs to be in sync. A mix of everything together makes a belting wine.
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"It's good to have different things to do, you can't play rugby all your life.
"Once it's done it's done. That was a part of my life but now it's nice to watch the games, and see the next generation coming through."
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