In the latest instalment of our series that delves into the lives of rugby’s biggest stars, Tap and Go catches up with Wasps and England back row Tom Rees to discuss injuries, the NFL and toilet seats.

Hi Tom… It’s been quite a turnaround for Wasps since Christmas. What’s been the secret to that success?
I think we found ourselves with our backs to the wall. Initially we had a problem with a lot of senior guys away at the World Cup. I got straight back into the team because I hadn’t played much at the World Cup and the heartening thing for me to see was that the effort was there, we were just lacking some self-belief. We found ourselves in some tight situations but came through them and dug ourselves out of some holes. We were up against it and the prospect of ending the year without any silverware has really galvanised us and made us push on.

Have you been pleased with your own form now you’re back to full fitness?
I’m fairly happy. Injuries are never a great thing but it gave me a chance to rest up mentally and get myself in good physical shape. Things have been going well and it does help coming back into a team that is playing well. There are no expectations around you – you can just get on with your job knowing everybody around you will do theirs.

What about that World Cup? How frustrating was it to miss out?
It was difficult because it is the pinnacle of a rugby player’s career and when you get there you don’t just want to be along for the ride, you want to be fully involved. Unfortunately, I spent a large part of it as a spectator. If anything, it’s motivation to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Tap and Go understands you got some friendly sticks from your team-mates. Who were the ones picking on you?
It was the usual mob. James Haskell gave me a lot of stick. With the guys going to the final, the possibility of me getting an OBE would have killed him. Deep down, part of him would have died. He was quite content if he had received an OBE and I didn’t.

You then went on to the Six Nations and suffered a knee injury – how tough is it mentally as well as physically to keep bouncing back?
In an odd way I’ve got better at it. I had a fairly injury-plagued year a couple of seasons ago and that was the first time I had experienced long injury lay-offs. I didn’t really deal with it too well and got down and was feeling low and frustrated. I became even grumpier than usual and was not fun to be around. I realised during the course of that year that I wasted a lot of energy being frustrated and being grumpy and the bottom line is that injuries do happen. The only thing you can do is shut up and get on with it. I just decided to crack on.

And with injuries now behind you, do you want to kick on and solidify a spot with England?
It’s not a case of being fit and straight back into the team. I’m keen to win back my place and then push on from there. Michael Lipman and myself are going on tour and will be keen to impress.

And there’s a new man in charge. Does that motivate you to perform at a higher level?
No one is ever going to say they’re only going to try harder because there’s a new boss around. Every time you go out for an international you give your all. But mentally we are on edge because a new staff is involved, people are going to be finding their feet and it’s an exciting time. Things are uncertain because no one knows how Martin Johnson wants to do things and that keeps you on your toes in terms of your place in the team and that can only improve performances.

What did you think of the appointment of Martin Johnson?
I’ve never met him myself, I only remember watching him as a player when I was younger. I can’t make any personal comment but guys I hold in very high regard hold him in very high regard and that speaks volumes. I’m looking forward to seeing what he is going to bring to the squad and hope to be involved in it.

What’s the best thing about being a professional rugby player?
To get paid for doing your hobby.

And the worst?
The feeling the day after a game.

Do you mean after you’ve lost or just generally?
Luckily at Wasps we don’t lose too many. It’s the physical feeling of feeling like you’ve been in a car crash combined with the possible addition of a hangover, depending on how well the game went.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a professional rugby player?
Not a lot. I was very lucky – I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do and rugby kind of made my mind up for me.

If you could go to any sports event in the world, what would it be?
I quite enjoy the NFL. In terms of presenting sport, the Super Bowl is one of the biggest events in America but also a global thing and that would be quite good to see. The Olympic Games would be quite exciting and after 2008 in Beijing we have 2012 in London. Sport is such a global thing that any big event, even if you are not an avid follower, does generate interest. At the same time, it’s great to see sports away from the big events when you just have the die-hard fans there. So while seeing a Super Bowl would be great, it would be good to go along and see a regular season NFL game and get the full experience.

Any nicknames?
Yes but none of them particularly flattering so I’ll shy away from that one.

You’re a big bloke so Tap and Go isn’t going to argue with you… What about the best dressing room prank you have witnessed?
We have the usual very poor hiding things under people’s seats or in their bags so when they pick them up they get splattered with yoghurt everywhere. A couple of the boys once hid a toilet seat that was lying around the changing room for some reason. A couple of the lads hid it in someone’s bag and it was there for about a week. He didn’t realise and by the time he did find it, he was in the dressing room preparing for the Heineken Cup Final. He went to get his kit out and pulled this great big white toilet seat out of his bag. His face was something to be seen.

That’s not a bad way to break the ice ahead of a big game.
Exactly. He took it in good spirits and just said, “Ah, you buggers!” It kept the team relaxed ahead of the final.

What about pre-match routines or superstitions… You into those?
Not really. I’m too forgetful, to be honest. If I had a superstition I have no doubt I would forget to do it and then wind up in a panic. The only thing I like to do before the kick-off is to rub a bit of the turf through my hands – but that’s about it.

If you could have three fantasy dinner guests, who would they be?
This one is a nightmare – it changes every time I do this. It’s an important thing to decide because you never know who is out there reading it and you could get an invite to dinner from one of your people one day.

Erm, okay, if you say so.
I would have Jeremy Clarkson for comedy value and he would be a good dinner guest. I would have Nigella Lawson for the food side of things and for a little bit of eye candy as well.

Are you going to make her cook?
Well, if she’s there she might as well lend a hand. And I was watching Gladiator the other day and Oliver Reed would be a fairly interesting guest. It would be between Oliver Reed and Russell Crowe. I think Oliver Reed would probably be a bit too much to handle so I’ll go with Russell Crowe – he would be interesting. And if we end up doing one of these in a few years’ time it would be three completely different guests.

Who are your favourite rugby players of all time?
For me, it’s very difficult to nail down one because I watched everyone when they grew up, regardless of position. If there was anything they did that was pretty good you would try to incorporate that into your game. The obvious one would be the England back row, which didn’t really change while I was growing up. The Holy Trinity of Richard Hill, Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio – I learned a lot from watching those guys while I was growing up.

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