Genge will start his third season back in his home city after a stint with Leicester but injuries have restricted him to 20 appearances for the Bears and he is looking to make up for lost time when their Premiership programme starts at Newcastle next month.
“It has been nice to take some time to fine tune different parts of the body,” said the 29-year-old prop. “I have tried to get into better physical shape. Pre-season is the time for crafting your body for what is to come, but I am very aware as soon as we start playing games and knocking ourselves about a bit, I am going to have to find a different way of doing things.
“It is not so easy getting under a bar in the gym after 80 minutes away at Newcastle so I will cross that bridge when we come to it.
“You can’t tell too much from pre-season – everyone thinks they are the best team in the world during it. It is the first time I have had one for a long, long time so it has been a bit different, and very long at 14 weeks: I was injured so have been in longer. I do not envy those who do it every year.
“Being injured is a drag. Everyone says put a positive spin on it, but it is tough. You want to be active and playing. I watched the boys in the first four months of pre-season and saw England on the television and it was hard. Playing is the easy bit and it has been very different for me this summer.
Esta historia es de la edición August 25, 2024 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 August 25, 2024 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
Sleightholme shows he has pace to burn
OLLIE Sleightholme recently clocked his fastest sprint time and is racing to cement his spot as an England starter.
McGoverne says playing for Chiefs is her priority
EXETER fly-half Olivia McGoverne has opted for club over country which will rule her out of contention for New Zealand’s World Cup bid in 2025.
Trinity aim to get the culture right
HIGH-FLYING Trinity have made a remarkable turnaround this season after narrowly avoiding relegation last term, heading into this weekend unbeaten and are now eyeing up promotion from Level 7.
YOUNG GUNS
Louie Gulley experienced the environment of England U20s’ World Championship triumph up close this summerand now has a burning desire to become an age-grade star. The 19-year-old Exeter Chiefs hooker was part of Mark Mapletoft’s squad but didn’t manage to make an appearance during the tournament.
The Cherry & Whites lay down marker over Lucs
CAMBORNE maintained their lead at the top of the table with a bonus-point win against their nearest challengers in a pulsating game.
A brace from Botterill is key to victory for Esher
A highly entertaining and enthralling contest between two sides fighting at the foot of the table was eventually won by Esher after the lead had changed no less than seven times throughout an absorbing afternoon.
Chiefs in hunt for new investment
TONY Rowe has confirmed the search for new investors into Exeter Chiefs has begun as he looks to safeguard the longterm future of the Premiership club.
McParland keen to shine for England A
NORTHAMPTON scrum-half Archie McParland feels he has returned a better player following a nasty injury that denied him a World Cup winners medal and is now ready to fly into a new opportunity with England A.
Undercard get chance to show their A-game
ENGLAND’S A team today get their first major work-out after being resurrected earlier this year when Australia’s undercard provide the opposition at The Stoop.
England look like a clueless rabble
I WATCHED with a growing sense of bewilderment as England yet again took to the field against Australia looking to all intents and purpose as if they had just been introduced to each other on the coach into Twickenham.
