Sam Stanley: What’s on your mantelpiece?

The Steeple Times asks rugby player and England Sevens star Sam Stanley: What’s on your mantelpiece?

The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

Love, laughter and happiness.

“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

“Be who you are, not who other people want you to be”.

Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2015?

Discrimination in all forms.

Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

Being a little kid without a care in the world.

What might you swap all your wealth for?

If you’re talking money, wealth is definitely something I’m yet to achieve. I’m working towards a wealth of knowledge though.

Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?

Hmm… I have no comment.

What phrase or word do you most loathe?

When someone messages and says: “Hi babes”.

In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

I tend to support trusted charities and ones where I know someone within it.

The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

Definitely no phones at the dinner table. At least that way there’s a bit of time to get our heads up. It’s the only time my other half gets to talk to me! Oooops… What has our world come to.

If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

Along with my man Laurence Hicks, it would probably list these people: Albert Einstein’s ghost, Michael Jackson’s ghost, Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Sir David Attenborough, Stephen Hawking, Sam Walton, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Richard Branson and Sir Elton John. Okay, I think I’ll stop there but I could go on and on…

If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

I’m struggling to think… It would be a meal cooked by my man at our house in Sicily.

What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

00:00am.

A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

None: I’m a coffee addict.

Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

You probably have to attend parties to answer this one. My own of course, I know I’ll be invited.

Who is the most positive person you know?

I’d say myself as of the last few months but otherwise my good friend Callum Wilson or my man Laurence Hicks.

What’s your most guilty pleasure?

Chocolate: I’d own a factory if I could.

If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

Samoan sleeve with a little gay pride flag in there somewhere.

If you were a car, what marque would you be?

I’m thinking something cool but not ridiculously flash: An Aston Martin.

Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

I have two crowns on my head.

What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

It doesn’t really count as a mantelpiece but I have a shelf with two little terracotta warriors on it.

Sam Stanley is in his sixth season as professional rugby player. For the majority of it, he has been sidelined through serious injuries but he has managed to play for Saracens a number of times and represented England in the World Sevens Series.

Follow him on Twitter @Stanley_13 and Instagram at @samstannerz.

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