IF THERE was a glitterball trophy for getting your shirt off, rugby player Ben Cohen would have won hands down.

The torso-flashing Strictly star is no stranger to stripping off, having appeared on numerous calendars and magazine covers (and he appeared on live TV in his undies to raise awareness of testicular cancer).

But the 35-year-old, described as the David Beckham of rugby, says overcoming his inhibitions to dance half-naked on TV was "harder than playing in a World Cup Final".

"Playing rugby was my job," he says, "but having to dance and act, when I'd never in my entire life done it before, in front of so many people, was very difficult. And it was hard work - it was a tiring three months."

The experience has not put him off, however, as Ben has signed up for the live tour of the hit BBC One show, which comes to Glasgow's Hydro next month.

He will join series winner Abbey Clancy, as well as BBC Breakfast presenter Susanna Reid and Coronation Street actress Natalie Gumede, who were both finalists.

Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden, Westlife heartthrob Nicky Byrne and actor Mark Benton complete the line-up, while Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli are back as the tour's formidable judges and former Strictly favourite Lisa Riley will host.

"It will be fun," says Ben, with a smile. "There won't be so much pressure, it will be a bit of a laugh. And it will be lovely to dance with Kristina again. She was so patient with me."

Kristina Rihanoff was Ben's professional partner on the TV show, which ended just before Christmas.

Ben and Kristina left in week nine, after their Charleston failed to impress the judges.

"The one thing I'm disappointed about - and I loved the whole Strictly experience, and would do it again in a heartbeat - was getting 27 points for that Charleston," says Ben, adding emphatically, "because I nailed it."

He adds: "I was gobsmacked by the score..."

Ben, who is married with twin daughters, is looking forward to being able to spend some time with the girls at home in Northampton during the tour.

"They can't come with me, because of school and everything else, but I'll be able to pop home often, which is great," he says.

"I'm looking forward to coming to Glasgow - I've played rugby there a few times and it's a great city. Probably more of a football city than a rugby city, but you do like your dancing."

Ben's motivation for taking part in Strictly and doing the live tour is to raise the profile of The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, a charity he set up to combat homophobia and bullying.

It was inspired by the death of his father, Peter Cohen, in 2000. He died after being injured when he stepped in to protect someone during a brawl at his own nightclub.

And Ben says that, once the tour is over, he has no plans to bare his chest again any time soon.

"To be honest, I probably won't keep dancing after the tour," he says, adding with a grin. "I might be tempted to throw a few shapes at the kids' parties, but that's about it...."

l The Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour 2014 is at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on February 1 and 2. For tickets, visit www.strictlycomedancing live.com or call 0844 875 8758