Well done with the ciggy, Miggy!
If you are serious about losing a bit of weight, have a look at the various books on the 'Hay' diet. Nothing to do with horses etc., but a Dr. Hay expounded a theory about 'compatible' eating, which involved not eating carbs. and protein (it's called food combining) at the same meal because the body couldn't assimilate the two together.
I'm not a particular devotee of it, but my wife and I stuck to it for 12 months and found that the meals created were very interesting and palatable, and we both felt strangely invigorated and definitely more active. We did lose weight without really suffering, but I put that down to controlled portions and less fat, sugar etc. rather than anything else.
It does involve a lot of meal planning and careful buying, and at the end of the day weight loss still relies upon burning more calories than you consume.
The emphasis of this eating method is on feeling healthier and it certainly did that for us. I'm sure your rugby wouldn't suffer.