Dai Flanagan believes his players will be excited to return for the start of pre-season training – but stressed how important it is to pace the return and not peak too soon.
The Men of Gwent reported back to Ystrad Mynach on Monday (June 12) for screening and testing as the extended countdown to the new BKT United Rugby Championship and EPCR Challenge Cup season starts.
The senior group – minus the six players named in the Rugby World Cup training camp for Wales – and Senior Academy members – without those away with Wales Under-20s – were all back at HQ.
New signings Dane Blacker and Cory Baldwin were among the players checking out the new surroundings.
Flanagan is looking forward to getting back to work with the squad for an initial four-week block before another short break.
And after six-week spell away from the training base, he knows the players will return with the right attitude and application.
“Everyone is excited to come back together and look forward after the way we finished against the Scarlets,” said Flanagan.
“In many ways, they are creatures of habit and miss each other. Pass Ystrad Mynach in recent weeks and you’ll have seen several of them running.
“It’s been a long time. They are pro athletes who enjoy training, and they don’t want to let their team-mates down.
“The key now is to not peak too early,” he added. “The first game is 18 weeks away. We don’t want to get a couple of months into pre-season and be ready to play.
“We need to make sure we are maintaining fitness and that training is both enjoyable and challenging.
“Block one is about re-learning how we train and connecting with people with some light-hearted competition.”
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Everyone is excited to come back together and look forward after the way we finished against the Scarlets...
