BUILDING THE TEAM

We look at some ways that World Cup teams have strengthened bonds off the field

DURING GRUELLING camps, any side worth its salt will mix the hard work with team-building. Because you have to bond if you are to take on a colossal challenge like a World Cup and thrive.

There are some more traditional ways of doing so. Italy, for example, went the classic route of splitting their wider squad into smaller teams, colour-coding them and setting them off against each other in challenges. As you’ll read on P86 onwards, they then joined up with the Italian army in the mountains.

There are also activities that mix the whacky and the graft in one event. Ireland had live music in their gym. In their down time, England welcomed Mark Labbett – ‘the Beast’ from TV’s The Chase – to host their team quiz.