Education
Briars learnt to play squash at Gresham"s School, Holt, which he attended from 1968 to 1976, and became a professional squash player on leaving school at the age of eighteen, continuing as a professional until 1989.
Briars learnt to play squash at Gresham"s School, Holt, which he attended from 1968 to 1976, and became a professional squash player on leaving school at the age of eighteen, continuing as a professional until 1989.
He became the British number one player in 1985, and at the top of his career was the fourth-ranked squash player in the world. He also represented England at the 1981, 1983 & 1985 World Team Squash Championships. On retiring from the professional sport in 1989, Briars went to University College, Cardiff to study law, and subsequently qualified as a solicitor in 1994.
He then practised as a commercial lawyer
With effect from 1 October 1999, he was appointed as Executive Director of the Professional Squash Association (PSA), succeeding John Nimick, of Boston, United States of America, and commented: "This represents a wonderful move for me away from the legal profession, but not without relinquishing the invaluable knowledge and experience I have gained whilst practising in commercial law. This career change represents an exciting partnership of my two life careers and places me on the threshold of what I am certain will be a bright future for the professional game of squash which has provided me with so many happy memories.".