Robshaw

Chris Robshaw was a novice to dancing when he joined the Strictly Come Dancing line-up, but his partner Nadiya thinks he has what it takes to overcome the disadvantage

Former Rugby Union player, Chris Robshaw, 39, stepped out of his comfort zone when he signed up to BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, having never danced in his life – except at his wedding.

This year, many have criticised the unfair advantage in dancing experience, with stars such as Amber Davies, 28, and Lewis Cope, 30, having performed in the West End.

However, Chris’ professional partner, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, thinks he has everything it takes to overcome the disadvantage. “Chris is taking all the information on board. He just needs a few more weeks to kind of get to the point, and then I think he’ll be really ready to perform the way I think he can to his full abilities,” she says.

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“It’s the experience of knowing how to do that, which is completely new and which you can’t get overnight, but I think this is what the show is about, for people who never danced before.

“We often don’t get to see it because like people who don’t have this experience would sometimes leave the show earlier, which is really sad because there is often so much talent in there, and it’s always so nice for the audience to see it.”

After the first live show last Saturday, Chris’ wife Camilla took to social media to address the ‘wild’ difference in the contestants’ dancing abilities.

“Proud forever. Up against people with years of experience when you’ve never even done a 2 step, opening the whole season and starting with one of the hardest dances going,” she penned.

Later, she responded to a comment from Love Island star Amber Gill, 28, who penned: “Unpopular opinion: I think having people with so much dance experience is unfair.”

Speaking on his wife’s comment, Chris said: “I love my wife and she’s my biggest supporter. She wants us to do well in the competition, and that’s kind of it really.”

On what he thinks of the range of dancing abilities, Chris added: “It is what it is, isn’t it? In SAS you could say I was fitter than some of the other people, and then that’s kind of it.”

Chris was forced to pull out of Celebrity SAS with a shoulder injury – but luckily has avoided any injuries during his time on Strictly.

This series was thrown into chaos when two contestants were forced to pull out before the first live show even started.

Just days after the line-up was announced, Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn revealed he would be stepping back from the series due to unexpected medical reasons, which he said were a “high level of stress and a little bit of grief” that manifested physically.

Soon after, it was revealed that he’d be replaced by Emmerdale star Lewis Cope, who played the character Michael in the West End production of Billy Elliot: The Musical.

Then, just days before the live shows were about to start, Love Island’s Dani Dyer revealed she’d been forced to pull out due to a fractured ankle.

She was replaced with former Love Islander and West End star Amber Davies, who, with just days to practiced received an impressive 27/40 in her debut dance.

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Former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw has been married to classical crossover singer Camilla Kerslake since 2018, with the couple sharing two children together

Chris Robshaw admits his wife Camilla Kerslake laughed at him when he first announced he would be signing up to Strictly Come Dancing. The former England rugby union player married singer Camilla in France in 2018.

The pair had been engaged for six years when they tied the knot. Classical crossover singer Camilla, 37, made headlines in 2009 when she became the first person to be signed by Gary Barlow’s record label.

She had performed for Queen Elizabeth II as well as performing the national anthem at Wembley and the-then Millennium Stadium. And while Camilla has been one of Chris’s supporters throughout his career, he admits she burst out in a fit of laughter when he told her he would be heading onto the dance floor.

Chris told Heat that Camilla knows “all about my dance moves” but revealed she later reassured the 39-year-old that she backed his decision.

He explained: “She was like, ‘Look, it’s a great opportunity. It’s amazing, so go and do it, we’ll support you’.”

Chris, who shares one-year-old Hunter and four-year-old Wilding with Camilla, says his eldest child has been excited by the news. “We’ve shown him the show, he loves the sparkles and the lights,” Chris explained.

And while Wilding “doesn’t quite understand” that his dad will be taking part in the show, Chris wanted him to see his dad stepping out of his comfort zone. The former flanker says it’s good to “really challenge yourself” at times.

Chris himself is no stranger to a challenge. As well as racking up 66 caps for England, he took part in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins last year, although he had to withdraw due to injury.

Chris underwent surgery after a boxing match with Love Islander Ovie Soko. He said: “I had to get an operation. Because I’d popped my shoulder out the ligament was loose so it becomes like a catch which keeps opening. So they reattached the ligament to keep it in place.”

The ex-rugby star said he had experienced some shoulder problems towards the end of his playing career. Before taking part in Strictly, Chris joked that he hoped the BBC show would help him take his “dad dancing to a whole new level”.

He said: “This is about as far out of my comfort zone as it gets! I’m hoping to take my dad dancing to a whole new level, and my mum can’t wait to drag me along to her Zumba class. Let’s see if a rugby sidestep works in the Cha Cha Cha.”

Chris will be taking part in Strictly with professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova. Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One from 6.55pm today (September 27)