39 year old feels as fit as ever as he signs with new club Worcester Warriors

Last week, Aviva Premiership side Worcester Warriors announced Peter Stringer had signed a short term contract with them as cover for Francois Hougaard.

Worcester director of rugby, Gary Gold said “ordinarily we wouldn’t go out and sign a 39-year-old” but with a player of Stringer’s experience it’s would be hard to say no to.

Speaking to The Rugby Paper, Stringer explained what lifestyle changes he was made in recent years to ensure he can extend his career for as long as possible.

Stringer, capped 98 times since his debut for Ireland in 2000, is still in great shape he says and can only see himself playing rugby in the future which is quite incredible for someone who turns 40 in December.

Stringer was recently speaking to The Rugby Paper and feels he is fitter now than what he was when he first started playing professionally. He also explains some of the choices he has made over the last number of years to stay at the top of his game.

In the last five or six years I’ve concentrated on every element of my life with regard to diet and sleep. You look at all the little bits that make up your whole persona and that helps to motivate you.

I’ve taken eating well to a whole new level to prolong my career and make the most of it. I’ll regret it forever if I don’t do everything possible to make sure I’m in the right state of mind and physical shape.

I’m probably fitter now than I was 20 years ago. As long as my fitness scores are going up, I’ll carry on. I’ve looked for reasons to retire and I can’t see any.

I can only see myself playing rugby – everything I do is to make that last as long as possible. I love the game and I’m a bit obsessed at this stage with keeping fit. It doesn’t take any talent to do it. It’s just a matter of wanting to do it.

The scrum half will be joining up with another experienced head at Worcester in Donnacha O’Callaghan, who has been at Sixways since 2015.

Similarly to O’Callaghan, Stringer doesn’t drink alcohol and both believe is a huge factor towards the longevity of their career’s.

Gary Gold went on to compare Stringer with Roger Federer because of how well both look after themselves

You saw the other day with Federer – if you look after yourself well enough then age doesn’t matter; in sport, you shouldn’t discriminate against somebody’s age.

Everywhere Strings goes people raise eyebrows, because you don’t expect a 39-year-old to still be able to run the tests and keep up with the youngsters, and have the decision-making ability that he still has. But he’s a teetotaller, he’s always been a fitness fanatic and he’s got a tremendous work ethic.