Fitness

Carter missed Racing's 15-12 defeat to Leinster in Bilbao due to a hamstring injury but could be fit to face either Toulouse or Castres in Lyon on May 26 in the Top 14 semi-final, according to backs coach Laurent Labit.

If not available in two weeks' time, Carter, who will leave the French side for Kobelco Steelers in Japan at the season's end, is "sure" to be fit for the June 3 final in Paris, Labit said.

Samoa's chief executive officer for the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Agafili Shem Leo, said 4,000 applicants had been registered for the next season.

The government said that if Samoa is to increase the number of people participating it is essential they send the best possible people who are physically and mentally fit.

Agafili said the recent deaths of two RSE while in New Zealand and Australia had nothing to do with the new test.

He said the pilot programme had been months in the making.

It may well be something you've heard a million times before. But when it comes to your fitness, it's well worth remembering.

If instant gratification is your thing, exercise can be a drag. It's not something you do once, then sit back and reap a lifetime of rewards.

Those rewards only come with hard work, consistency and self-discipline.

"You're only as good as your last training session," said sports scientist Tony Boutagy.

"In other words, you only get health benefits from a session for up to about 48 hours afterwards."

They also smoke a lot less, but they do get more infections which could potentially increase the risk of heart problems by causing inflammation in the body.