Lions go the distance to keep in shape
Should Super Rugby return this season the Lions will have no excuse for being out of shape.
The nationwide 21-day lockdown that kicks in on Thursday night as a means of curbing the spread of Covid-19 should not affect their fitness as they have been given equipment to gym at home.
The players have also been given personalised fitness programmes that they have to adhere to while they practise social distancing.
Lions strength and conditioning coach Rupert Oberholster admitted the biggest challenge over the 21-day lockdown would be to stick to a fitness routine. “I have arranged with a few biokinetics practices and gyms the temporary use of their rowing machines‚ gym bikes and treadmills,” he said.
“I asked my gym if we could borrow rowing machines and spinning bikes because clearly players won’t be able to run on a field or on the street.”
Some players are more in need of equipment than others.
Flyhalf and captain Elton Jantjies already has a gym fitted at his home but the younger players who hold a single contract often do not.
Oberholster said the type of fitness exercises the players would be doing while they keep their distance included swimming‚ running‚ skipping‚ boxing and agility training if they had a small patch of grass.
He said players who lived on farms or smallholdings could do their normal running routines.
The Lions and the Bulls have had to self-isolate since their return from Australasia.
“In the first week of selfisolation I gave each player a fitness and gym programme‚” said Oberholster. “Players were expected to inform us what equipment they have and where they were located [farm‚ or house in Johannesburg].”