A RUGBY player who spent 18 years as an RAF pilot after scoring a record-breaking number of tries for England will speak to businesses at this year's Royal International Air Tattoo.

Rory Underwood MBE scored 49 tries for England in 85 international rugby union games between 1984 and 1996, and he was selected six times for the British Lions as they toured Australia in 1989 and New Zealand in 1993.

He primarily played as a winger and also played for the Leicester Tigers, Middlesbrough Rugby Union Football Club and the Bedford Blues.

He then amassed 3,000 hours in the air while piloting planes in the RAF while finding time to play for the force's ruby team and introduce crew resources management training which looked at how teamwork and decision making is affected in time limited, stressful situations.

Since putting away his rugby boots and stepping out of the cockpit for the last time, he has worked as an experienced psychometric profiler and performance coach.

He will bring his years of experience to RIAT at Fairford on July 19 to speak at a networking session for the event's new business club.

Helen Webb from the Air Tattoo team said: “We are delighted to have Rory as one of the speakers at our new business club.

"His wealth of experience as a pilot, elite athlete and in the corporate sector will provide those attending with a wealth of information that they can apply to their own personnel development and businesses.”

Mr Underwood will talk to staff from various businesses about how to measure their understanding'

Guests to the business club will spend the day with like-minded organisations and enjoy business round-table discussions with speakers, pilots and aircrew who will drop in throughout the day for photo opportunities.

The networking event starts at 9am with refreshments and structured networking followed by guest speakers from 10am to11am.

The flying display follows from 11am to 3pm with lunch served. Guests can head outside to seem the display or take part in more round-table discussions inside.Afternoon tea will follow at 3.00pm before guests leave at around 4.30pm.