Published Sunday 28th Mar 2004. Worcester News
WORCESTER Rugby Club's new fitness guru has promised his players a `brutal' time in training.
Phil Richards immediately made his presence felt yesterday at Six-ways as Worcester's promotion-chasing squad reported back for pre-season training.
The former Swansea coach left the players in no doubt that he meant to turn Worcester into a lean, mean, fighting machine as they go head to head with Orrell and Bristol for the National One title.
"I want to develop a powerful Worcester team," he said. "In the past they've been fit but I want more than that. I want fit but very, very powerful.
"That was the premise of my five years at Swansea when we developed quite a brutal team. That's what the game of rugby is all about. It's about brutal physicality.
"The whole training concept is about preparing players physically, mentally, nutritionally and changing their lifestyles.
"That is the key foundation for life whether you're a rugby player or a person who works in the bank. Nutritional lifestyle will drive the whole programme."
Richards, a qualified nutritionist, is determined to revolutionise the players' lifestyles to prepare them for his training regime.
"There are a few fundamental principles," he added. "What I am looking at is how much stress the system can take. There are effects on the body if you don't have the basics in place.
"For example. If you're eating poor quality foods from microwaves you are giving yourself a problem, if you're going to bed past 11pm you are missing out on some quality repair time and if you're drinking tap water -- which in my opinion is pretty poor quality -- you're getting a lot of stress before you even start training."
Once the diets are in place, the players are set for a training programme with the emphasis on strength.
"I want to develop a big, hard, powerful Worcester team. That is the bottom line for me. If we've got any soft guys in the team then they'll be found out. The programme is geared for power. I want us to be playing a power, running game.
"My background is the army and what I want from the players is honesty. If they mess me about, they will pay a price. The players will enjoy the training but it will be brutal."
