Both Jeremy Davidson and Ken O'Connell are now playing for French team Castres, a side who appear to have a novel approach towards fitness. O'Connell tells the most recent volume of Irish Rugby Review that he can't understand how the club allows its players to smoke to their hearts' content while insisting that alcohol is taboo.

"It's strange. There is no pub culture and no social life to speak of but it seems to be okay for guys to smoke themselves to death," says the former Sunday's Well and London Irish flanker O'Connell.

Indeed. But not so long ago French full back Serge Blanco proved to the world that not only could he smoke as he liked and drink in moderation but he could also become the best full back in the world. Just goes to show really what a ludicrous fad health has become. Question is will O'Connell give up the drinking or take up the smoking?