The worlds of sport and politics frequently intersect, with most politicians keenly aware of the prestige that can accompany even the most perfunctory association with athletic glory.
Conservative MP Boris Johnson, who could very well be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, is someone who fully understands the value of sport as a vehicle for acquiring political capital.
While rugby is his first love, having played for Balliol College during his time at Oxford, he has also displayed an interest in football, infamously flattening former Germany international Maurizio Gaudino in a 2006 charity match.