07/06/2026
What happens when you retire from your team sport?
The games stop.
The habits don’t.
For years, rugby was my focus. As a forward, my goal was simple:
Get bigger.
Get stronger.
Become harder to move at scrum time.
Carrying extra weight wasn’t a problem—it was often an advantage.
At my heaviest, I weighed 121kg.
Strong? Absolutely. Probably the strongest I’ve ever been.
Healthy? That’s debatable.
The problem is nobody really talks about what happens when rugby starts to disappear from your life.
The training volume drops.
The matches stop.
The structure disappears.
The injuries remind you they’re still there every morning.
But the eating habits and the drinking habits often stay exactly the same.
That’s where many former players get caught out.
These days, I’m still chasing strength.
But I’m also trying to lose some body fat so I can move better, feel better and stay capable.
Not because I want six-pack abs.
Not because I want to look like a fitness influencer.
At 41 years old, I couldn’t care less about that.
I want a body that still works.
One that allows me to coach athletes, demonstrate movements properly, enjoy family life and stay active for years to come.
The goal isn’t to be the biggest bloke in the room.
The goal is to be the most capable.
Because rugby may finish.
But looking after yourself shouldn’t.
Has rugby retirement—or simply getting older while still playing—changed how you think about training?
Drop me a DM and let’s chat about staying strong, fit and athletic in your 40s and beyond.
