RGC aiming to be ready to go
RGC’S pre-season training is in full flow, with extreme heat, extreme rain and thunderstorms adding to the challenge ahead of the big kick-off in September.
Fly-half Billy McBryde caught his breath in between the sessions and says the players will be ready for when they play Merthyr at Parc Eirias on Sunday, September 8.
“Things are coming together nicely so far,” he said.
“Gaz Whittaker (strength and conditioning coach) is starting to ramp things up in terms of the intensity of the sessions to make sure we’re peaking at the right time and that we’re flying by the time the new season starts.
“We are settling in well and it’s just a case of building partnerships and getting used to our structures and systems so that we’re ready for that first game.”
Scrum-half Efan Jones is also excited to be back.
“It’s been an intense start to pre-season, thanks to Gaz.
“It’s been good to see the boys again after a good offseason, and we’re starting to look sharp in our team sessions.
“Excited to see what our new lads can inject into the team leading into our first game this month!”
As RGC head into the new season, another batch of academy players have made the step up to senior training and put a marker down in terms of breaking into the team.
Josh Leach, RGC academy manager, said: “This has been the final week of phase one of the seniors’ preseason.
“Gaz Whittaker has taken the lead on a lot of the training, conditioning the players to a level that allows us to play fast, and push the physical demands of Premiership rugby.
“For the more experienced players in the squad, the sound of Gaz’s voice chasing them around Eirias is fairly familiar, but for the four players coming up from last year’s junior academy it has probably come as a bit of a shock.
“Whilst Pedr Jones, Oscar Crowe, Matt Buchanan, and Sam Earl-Jones got a small taste of the Premiership rugby towards the end of last season, the gradual realisation of the step up from regional age grade rugby is potentially quite daunting.
“For these boys to achieve the physical conditioning and level of skill required to play the game the way we want to, they really will have to push themselves constantly in order to improve and compete with the more experienced players around them.
“Already we can see improvements in their abilities.
“They are having to work harder and learn faster, with more Senior players challenging them, encouraging them, and holding them accountable for their contribution to the team.
“Ultimately, it will be their response to the challenges that lie ahead of them that will determine how fast, and how far they progress.”
Former RGC head coach Mark Jones has been given the opportunity to coach at the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
The former Welsh international will join the Namibia coaching staff under Phil Davies, who is another who played a significant role in the Gogs’ incredible rise to prominence since their inception.
Jones will be working closely
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with the Namibia backs both prior and during the competition, which will take place in Japan from September 20 until November 2.
The ex-Llanelli standout made a lasting impression at Parc Eirias during his three years at the helm, helping RGC establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the Indigo Group Premiership in addition to securing an historic WRU National Cup for the first time in the club’s history.
He stepped down from the position following RGC’s final day victory over runners-up Cardiff.
Jones will be joined on the Namibia coaching staff by fellow ex-Wales players Dale McIntosh and Wayne Proctor, and he was part of the national setup in 2012-13 when they won the Six Nations title.
Jones said: “Phil asked me to come on board after I left RGC and it was all agreed a few weeks ago.
“It’s a big honour to be asked. This kind of opportunity doesn’t come about often and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”