Ian Gough

I have been a professional rugby player since 1996 having previously played in Canada for a season. I played in Wales for sixteen years and have earned 64 Welsh caps from 1998 to 2010. I recently completed my first season in the English Aviva league playing for London Irish before returning to my original region back in Wales in 2014. Over the course of my career I've gained a wide array of skills. As a member of a professional rugby team and the national squad I've worked on advertising campaigns, partaken in public speaking at networking and corporate events, charity work and supported community initiatives. Part of my role was having regular dealings with the media, taking part in interviews for the TV, radio and broadsheets all with the aim of enhancing the brand of the business. This has extended into punditry work where I've worked pitch side, in the studio or live commentating on games for terrestrial TV. As a coach of the Ospreys age grade system I've worked with the U16s and U18s and achieved my Level 3 Coaching Certificate. A lot of those players have gone on to play senior regional rugby while a few have achieved international honours. Outside of rugby I have a small property portfolio which I've been adding to over the last fifteen years. This is something I'd like to keep expanding and an area I'd like to gain further expertise in. I'm also a keen pilot having gained my aviation licence in 2007. Subsequently I've toured many areas of Europe by air in my Yak-52 and completed further courses in aerobatics and formation flying. I have an interest in health and nutrition especially child nutrition where I would like to expand my knowledge and help tackle the growing obesity problem that we face in the UK. I believe this can be done first of all by educating and motivating the younger generation and their parents.