Sporting enough stitches to worry any mother, sporting Goliath Martin Johnson explained the finer points of breaking the line to keen Bermuda youngsters.

Markedly absent was the arrogance and aloofness that a soccer World Cup winning skipper would almost inevitably possess and no child?s question went unanswered.

Here is a man whose sporting achievement brought a large proportion of his nation to tears last November, yet he still has the humility to deal with kids and enthusiastic rugby fans alike with a candour and friendliness that has already made him incredibly popular in Bermuda.

?Wining the World Cup, it was an amazing day, it was an amazing few weeks,? said Johnson, looking somewhat bemused as the heavens opened at the National Sports Centre on his first day on the ?paradise island?.

?The day itself was something I am obviously never going to forget as were the days after we won it. We were privileged to experience some great things and meet some incredible people but you have to keep your feet on the ground and move on.

?It might have been the end of my international career, but for a lot of the lads playing that day they still have more internationals and more World Cups to come.

?For me it is all about playing rugby, something I love doing. Just a few days later I found myself playing on a cold, wet November night in Bath and I still enjoyed myself.

?I have great memories from winning that World Cup but you can?t live your life thinking ?now I?ve done that, everything is downhill from here?.

?Somebody asked me the other day what it is like knowing that nothing I will ever do will affect so many people again, but you can?t think like that or there would be no point in doing anything anymore.

?There are still rugby games to be played and we will always have our memories and other people will have theirs.?

Though clearly unchanged by this fascinating final chapter in his 84 cap, 11-year England career, Johnson still enjoys hearing other people?s recollections of that historic day and still remains surprised and honoured by the reactions of Englishmen and women the world over.

?People still come up to me now and say ?thanks for the memories? and I like that,? continued Johnson, who staged one of his nine worldwide testimonial dinners at the Southampton Princess last night.

?It is amazing how many people shed tears after that win, sometimes you don?t realise the effect of what you?ve done.

?We were there and we saw the English travelling crowd and what it meant to them but it was only when we got home that we realised how it had affected the nation.

?It was a truly great feeling.?

Johnson clearly still loves his rugby, which is why he is playing for Leicester after his international retirement and why he has no problem helping out kids even in a rugby outpost like Bermuda.

He had the nearly 200 youngsters in stitches during a question and answer session held under a tent during the coaching clinic earlier this week, the perfect antidote after a devastating downpour brought a premature end to what was proving to be a very successful training session.

And for the future?

?I think I am eligible for the Classic now,? added Johnson with a smile.

?There are a few guys around here who I know have only just finished playing Test rugby and I am sure some of them are younger than me.

?When I?m done with Leicester I think I might have to come and play in this. I?ve not been here before but I?ve heard a lot about it on the rugby grapevine ? it is a popular destination for the retired guys for reasons both on and off the field.

?It made the perfect venue for my dinner because so many top class players are already here and rugby is clearly very popular in Bermuda.

?I just hope the weather improves if I have to play here.?