Richard Hill has revealed how his Worcester Warriors are being pushed to the absolute limit – to ensure they are in peak physical condition for the league run-in and RFU Championship play offs.
Head Coach Hill is putting a large number of his first team stars through an intensive mini pre-season training spike as they prepare for the final four games of the regular campaign and big six games in the play off group stages.
The Sixways boss admits the training regime over the last two weeks has been brutal on the squad and really tested their resolve.
However, he has been delighted by the results and praised the players for knuckling down ahead of the league away trip to Cornish Pirates next Sunday (January 30).
“The squad is looking good,” said Hill. “We have been out with the players on the training fields and we are trying to break them and push them to the limit.
“Some of the players have probably not been used to pushing their bodies to a certain limit; some perhaps like to stay within the really painful zone and not go to the point where you are going to be ill. But we are pushing them right to the limits to see just how far they can go.
“I have to say, they are in very good shape and Phil Davies and I, along with Keir Hansen and Stuart Pickering the strength and conditioning coaches, have tried our hardest to break them.
“They are hanging in there and have had a week and a half. Now they have another few days to go where we will try and crack a few. They are in great shape which is very encouraging.”
Meanwhile, Hill has praised the players who will be out of contract at the end of this season for producing impressive displays in Ireland against Leinster A and called for them to back it up on home soil against Plymouth Albion this Saturday at Sixways.
“They all put their hands up and that is what they need to do. They need to keep producing those performances,” said Hill.
“I have said I am going to wait until the end of February before I make definite decisions on people, they have still got another six weeks to really impress.
“In a game like that, against Leinster A, it was important that I went to watch them and saw how they prepared and their attitude over a couple of days. If they keep putting performances like that together, certain individuals will have no problem at all.
“People coming to Sixways this weekend will see players highly motivated,” he added. “Firstly, we want a quarter final spot and it is very important for the club to do that. Secondly, because there will be players who will be desperate to back-up a good performance last week with another one at home.
“The vast majority of the group, in particular the first team group, are under contract. I am comfortable with that. I have got to sort out one or two, I certainly would like to have our top 22 going into the play offs all under contract if they are going to stay.”
Watch Warriors tackle Plymouth Albion in a crunch British & Irish Cup game at Sixways this Saturday. Call the Warriors Box Office on 01905 454183 or click HERE to buy your seats online.