Worcester Warriors have stepped up preparations ahead of the new Guinness Premiership campaign with a one-week summer training camp in Exeter.
Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock and his coaching staff and playing squad will spend five days this week at the camp on the south coast.
Ruddock believes the camp will help bring his squad even closer ahead of a gruelling league and cup season.
But he admits the sessions away from Sixways will be anything but a summer break and his players should be geared up for a packed week of hard work.
“We have a full and very busy schedule down in Exeter and I know it will be a very worthwhile trip for all the players,” said Ruddock.
“The Warriors have been down there before so we know the facilities are first class and it will be a positive experience for all the players.
“It gives the squad a change of venue which can be a positive thing at this time of year, by getting them away before the season starts we can really knuckle down and work very hard.
“It is also a real opportunity to spend more time together and work on team spirit without the guys having to shoot off after training, there are no distractions and it will be an intensive week for them all.”
Ruddock is determined to crank up the training schedule with the big kick-off in the Guinness Premiership now just over six weeks away.
But he admitted there would also be an injection of fun to the proceedings in the evening as the club hunts out a superstar in the ranks!
“We’re running a Superstars competition, similar to what they do on the television,” he added.
“The players will be having pool, football and table tennis tournaments and plenty of fun. It will be light-hearted but with the very serious aim of really bringing the squad together.
“In the evenings we also have more time for video analysis to really examine the players.
“And the camp also gives us an opportunity to look at goals for the season, our objectives in terms of the way we want to play. The core values to the season will also be discussed at depth.”