It's not just the UK and US which have introduced smoking bans. Australia has followed suit, and the effect there is similar to that back home in Blighty. The difference is that Aussies are now spending less in rugby clubs (rather than pubs), according to a recent report.

The report found that while [rugby club] membership had increased by 25 per cent in the past five years, revenue was down.

The report found the drop in revenue was due to a number of challenges, including changes in gaming laws and the recent smoking ban.

So membership is up, but revenue is down. I conclude that Aussie rugby players are drinking and smoking less. This would appear to augur pretty badly for the future results of British rugby teams against the men from down under.