Underwood, who was awarded an MBE for services to rugby, has been working with Mersey Maritime over the past 12 months to provide workshops for small to medium-size businesses that have signed up to its shipping-sector development programme.

Underwood now runs business performance consultancy Wingman, after his successful rugby-union career as a wing. He won 85 England and six Lions caps between 1984 and 1996, scoring a record 49 tries for England.

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