Rugby

As far as I understand it, the best way to avoid injuries (other than not playing ;]) is to strengthen your core and regularly stretch (not just before/after sports). Having physio friends may have influenced this opinion but a lot of rugby players will focus on strengthening their larger muscles and ignore the equally important parts that stabilise everything.

It's all about balance really. If you stretch when you wake up and before you go to bed every day and throw in some core stuff you'll last a lot longer as a sportsman.

I'm pretty good core training wise TBH. I am a keen runner, and core strength simply makes this easier.

I'm also a firm believer in the idea that being more flexible makes you faster. Its not always the best thing for forward play though. I've been training my neck to the point were I have noticably less ability to glance over my shoulder, while cycling. But I've had it hyper-extended playing hooker, and never want to experiance that again.

Basically I think the running + cycling + weights + rugby, fit OK together. But that the explosive nature of low number touch rugby (or say 5-a-side football). Is a slight step too far for someone of my build and weight. People will say that 15s rugby can be explosive. Not the way I play it is'nt ;)