County’s players get fit with Filippo

Competitive rugby may be some time away and while June might be regarded as the close season, players across the spectrum at Stirling County have been keeping fit - both physically and mentally.

The club’s strength and conditioning coach Filippo Bertolini has been keeping everyone in trim through a series of challenges which he started when lockdown began.

Filippo (33), who hails from Parma, Italy, has been at County since February last year having played at his home town club before moving on to strength and conditioning.

“I stopped playing to concentrate on the coaching,” said Filippo (pictured), “and in 1017, I went to New Zealand on a working holiday before coming to the UK.”

He completed an MSc in strength and conditioning at Northumbria University before taking on a role at Sunderland FC’s academy.

The move to Stirling came in February 2019 where he says, people have welcomed him.

From Monday, June 29, as part of Phase 2, clubs will be able to open their outdoor pitches for players - in maximum groups of eight from no more that three households - to undertake training on an individual basis.

During this time, indoor areas, including toilets, are to remain closed.

During Phase 2 players cannot participate in traditional rugby activities such as touch rugby or contact games due to the physical distancing measures still in place.

Players must only undertake individual training activities and take responsibility for maintaining physical distancing and regular hand hygiene at all times.

Under Filippo at County, players of all ages - and their families - have been keeping fot by undergoing challenges set by the strength and conditioning coach.

On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, Filippo is on Facebook Live encouraging everyone to join in.

“From the youngest players right up to the Super 6 squad and including the women, the challenges are aimed at keeping them fit and healthy and in a positive mental state,” added Filippo.

“We are in extraordinary times and we don’t know when the sport will be back so we’re trying to keep everyone motivated in the meantime.”

He went on: “It’s been going great and I think people at the club are enjoying it - there is an incentive because there will be awards at the end of lockdown when rugby returns.”

If you want to join in with Filippo’s challenges, log on to Stirling County RFC on Facebook.