Strictly's Chris Robshaw opens up about 'not being good enough'

Strictly's Chris Robshaw has opened up about 'feelings of not being good enough' as he revealed he was struggling mentally after retiring from rugby. 

The former rugby union star, 39, played for England from 2012 until 2015 before retiring from the sport altogether in 2022. 

In a new interview, Chris got candid as he discussed his mental health and how leaving his career impacted him - and revealed joining Strictly Come Dancing has given him purpose again. 

'My biggest competition is my own brain,' he said. 'I can't keep letting the anxious thinking win. 

'I have to keep telling the negative part in my brain to be quiet, as the feelings of not being good enough will always creep in, and I have to tell them to go away.'

Chris went on to share that he felt as though he 'lost' himself after retiring from rugby, which was tough mentally. 

He said: 'I'm just loving feeling like an athlete again. It's really hard when you leave a sport like rugby, it was my whole world and when that ends, you lose that sense of purpose and I did feel like I lost myself a bit. 

'Mentally, that's really tough. But I'm training with purpose again, Strictly has made me feel that spark again. 

'It's not the same as being on the rugby pitch, of course, but dancing has made me so happy.'

In a sweet admission, Chris said that it wasn't until he had his two sons Wilding and Hunter, who he shares with wife Camilla Kerslake, that he was able to open up about his mental health. 

'I've always been quite hard on myself and I have always wanted to win because that's what I was also conditioned to do so when I get the low scores or end up in the bottom two it feels like a game loss,' he said. 'It feels like I failed. Like I've let people down. 

'I carry that anxiety or fear. I never really used to talk about my feelings or mental health but since having the boys I think it's been important for me to not pretend I have it all together. 

'Losing to me feels like I am rubbish like I am not good enough and I will carry the feeling of failure.'

It comes just days after it was revealed Chris's wife Camilla is set to miss Strictly Come Dancing this weekend, as she is performing at The Grand Final Super league. 

Friends close to the singer say she felt torn about whether to perform, as it would mean she would miss the show, but she had booked the performance before Chris joined Strictly and will uphold her work commitments.

A source said, 'The performance was in the diary before Chris signed up to the BBC show'.

Following their distressing stalker nightmare, they had also agreed that Camilla wouldn't go to Strictly every week, to avoid any patterns of behaviour, and to eliminate safety concerns. 

Back in August it was revealed Chris almost turned down Strictly for safety reasons after he had been harassed by a 'violent' female stalker who had threatened to spread lies about him and his wife to social services.

BBC bosses are on high alert and have reassures Chris that 'his safety, and his family's safety, comes first.'

In light of the ordeal they'd been advised to not follow the same routine, so there was less chance of putting themselves into a dangerous situation.

The pair are incredibly close, and Camilla is Chris's safety blanket, so he's feeling the nerves even more at the prospect of her being absent.

He's feeling a little apprehensive already, without the added worry of his wife not being in the audience. But everybody respects she's back from maternity leave, and it's back to work. 

The married pair share an equal passion for their careers, and they have a mutual respect for each other's work.

Those close to the couple are hoping he won't end up in the bottom two, but if the scores are as low as they have been, it might mean that Chris will have to deal with the inevitable dance off without the support of his wife by his side.

A source said, 'Chris respects his wife and her career. He supports her, as she has supported him throughout his.

'No matter the outcome on Saturday, Camilla will support him away from the cameras, and his two boys will be watching at home'.