Following a stellar rugby career, Jonny Wilkinson has found meaning in his living drinks brand

England rugby legend and founder of the One Living brand, Jonny Wilkinson, has been on stage speaking to HCM editor, Liz Terry, at the HCM Summit.

Wilkinson spoke about the training regime he undertook which got him to the top of the game, as well as how he honed his ability to focus so intensely and the moment he realised that creating a kombucha brand was his life’s work.

“My life has always been about finding out what I’m capable of, but as a younger person I didn’t understand about balance," he says. "My training looked horrible. I was that guy who would put people off training because it was brutal. I didn’t get rehab, massage, or physio. Fear was driving me to keep doing more.

“Self care elements were pointless to me at the time. I was putting everything on achievement but realised my training was like self-sabotage. I spent five years injured. Now it’s different, I have learned that bringing yourself back into balance with nutrition, recovery, sleep, rest, breathwork, silence ... can unlock incredible experience.

“We disregard calm as a huge part of performance. Now I’m all about calm. Calm brings connection and connection brings everything. For 15 years I tried to control everything, now I understand what I want and make that clear with my intention and then I relax. I don’t try to control anything. If I look after my calm, anything is possible.”

In an exclusive interview earlier this year, Wilkinson, told HCM, that discovering living food brought about astounding improvements to his physical and mental health.

Later this afternoon, delegates will have the chance to try Wilkinson’s kombucha, a living-drinks business which started out in his kitchen.

Wilkinson said he was motivated to make kombucha accessible, affordable and as tasty as possible, so that what was in the bottle at the end was still living and growing and as close to how it started out as possible.

After Wilkinson, at 2.30pm, we’ll be hearing from Baz Moffat, co-founder of The Well HQ, which is driving improvements in women’s health. She will be doing a book signing during this afternoon’s tea break.

Also on stage this afternoon, we’ll have Accor’s Emlyn Brown and CEO of Armah Sports, Fahad Alhagbani who spoke in last month’s HCM about two IPOs in five years. Tune in viathe live stream here and seeing what you’re missing out on.