WALES team manager Martyn Williams is hoping that two weeks spent at altitude in the Swiss Alps and eight days in the sun in Turkey will prepare his side for an assault on the World Cup in France. The ‘sleep high, train low’ camp in Fiesch - the hotel is at 2,869 m and the training pitch is at 2,212m - has already seen 46 players pushed to their limits over the past week.
New Zealand recruit Taine Plumtree has had an interesting introduction to his potential new teammates, while Taulupe Faleatu joined the squad yesterday for the second week. “It is so unique living on top of a mountain and getting a gondola down to training 1,000 feet below every day. It is an unbelievable setting,” said Williams.
“I was speaking to our defense coach Mike Forshaw about the number of training camps we’ve been on before in our careers, but there has been nothing like this.
“John Ashby, our head of S&C put it all together and he has done a phenomenal job. Logistically it has been an absolute nightmare. They didn’t have a rugby pitch, so we had to bring our own posts and create one, and the red tape associated with getting our equipment here because of Brexit has been difficult.
Esta historia es de la edición July 09, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición July 09, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
