Hill pleased by squad’s fitness levels

Head Coach Richard Hill has been delighted with the fitness levels in the Sixways squad during a gruelling pre-season schedule.

Warriors are currently into the fifth week of preparations ahead of the new Aviva Premiership campaign and Hill acknowledges the chance to play top-flight rugby is a huge incentive for players to impress.

Hill also revealed that a season in the RFU Championship had also proved beneficial to fitness levels and means the Strength & Conditioning staff have been able to take a different approach in the countdown to the big kick-off.

He said: “Pre-season is going very with a great incentive at the end of it to play in the Aviva Premiership.

“We have changed things around this year because the playing squad were so fit at the end of last season. We peaked right at the end which is unusual because usually you would peak at the start of the season.

“With the format of the RFU Championship as it is, it is all geared up for you to be in top form in March, April and May. The players therefore came back from four weeks off in the off-season in really good shape.

“We haven’t had to do all the work at the start of pre-season to get the base right. We have been able to put them straight into the gym to build up strength and power. It has been a turnaround in the way we can do pre-season.

“This year, after a whole year of solid training, we are in good shape and we have been able to really identify strengths and weaknesses of individuals. We can then put them into smaller groups so those that need fitness, to lost body fat or work on upper or lower body strength can work on that.

“Those that need speed work can also work with Tony Hadley, the national sprint coach. They have got much more benefit and much more motivation from it because what they are doing in pre-season is geared to make them even better.”

Hill also believes a series of stern tests in the upcoming pre-season schedule – including games with Melbourne Rebels and Argentina – has really focussed the squad to ensure they are in peak condition.

“We are delighted with the pre-season programme with have,” added Hill. “The players are excited about it and you have got to stimulate them.

“We are going into the season with a certain game plan that we are working on now and these games are all about putting that into practice and seeing which players can execute it best.

“To have the Melbourne Rebels to start us off – having been away in camp the week before – then Plymouth Albion away, Argentina and a week before the season starts a tough battle with the old enemy Cornish Pirates is ideal.

“If you have got a couple of average games you can’t really get too excited, but everyone wants to play against the Rebels and Argentina and that will give us a good benchmark before the season starts.”


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