England’s former captain tells of his World Cup heartbreak, his love for Harlequins, and a new career when his playing days end

“I was down because it felt like the end,” Chris Robshaw says as he faces the truth that he has probably played his last game for England and will not be on the plane when Eddie Jones’s squad flies to Japan for the World Cup this Sunday. Robshaw has just finished lunch in Guildford and, after a sincere 15 minutes in which he has stressed his enthusiasm for a new rugby season as captain of his beloved club, Harlequins, he admits the old heartbreak.

Robshaw won 66 caps, a grand slam and was a key part of a world record-equalling run of 18 successive Test victories, but he will also be remembered as England’s captain in their painful 2015 World Cup. Exactly four years ago he was about to lead England into a tournament on home soil. Serious hope and giddy anticipation soon turned to dust as England did not even make it out of their group after losing against Wales and Australia at Twickenham. The scars remain for Robshaw.