Holiday snaps show rugby stars enjoying pre-World Cup R&R

WALES’ rugby stars have been enjoying some hardearned rest and relaxation after brutal training in Switzerland ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Warren Gatland’s 42-man training squad embedded themselves in Fiesch for two weeks of intense altitude training in preparation for the global showpiece tournament in Japan.

Operating a “live high, train low” policy, a typical day saw players put

through three sessions, made up of weights, conditioning games, fitness, skills and power endurance.

Now, ahead of returning to training this week in Wales to prepare for the first of four World Cup warmups, the squad have been given the time to fit in around a week of R&R with friends and family before getting straight back into the brutality of World Cup preparation. Here’s what some of them got up to...

George North spent some time in Paris with his new wife, Rio Olympics cycling medallist Becky James.

Snaps show the pair posing in front of the Eiffel Tower in glorious sunshine with their scooters. It comes after the pair got hitched earlier this summer.

Liam Williams and Gareth Anscombe have been soaking up the sunshine poolside and making the most of Marbella’s golf courses on holiday together, with their partners Sophie Harries and Milica Anscombe.

Josh Navidi has been in soaking up the Mediterranean climes in Ibiza, stopping by a Swedish House Mafia gig on the way.

Hadleigh Parkes has been holidaying in Italy with his wife Suzy, where the Scarlets centre’s wife shared the lovely news that the couple are expecting their first baby after tying the knot in New Zealand last summer.

And much closer to home, Leigh Halfpenny has made the most of time with his family, enjoying a seaside break with partner Jess and daughter Lily.

Wales’ first warm-up is away to England on Sunday, August 11, with the return fixture taking place in Cardiff the following weekend. A training camp in Turkey follows, before two fixtures against Ireland before jetting off to Japan.