Writes Edd Conway, Director of Rugby
From the 1st of September, 55 Senior Rugby pupils travelled for a three-day preseason training camp at Cardiff Met University in Wales. Following our training on Monday, the boys heard about university options and how the Performance Sport at Cardiff Met is run. This was an insightful presentation and a good way to build awareness regarding university life.
The main reason for the trip was the day spent at the Green Mile Training Camp, a 110-acre health and fitness facility that has previously hosted the Welsh international rugby and hockey sides, WWE and a number of schools, just like us.
The Green Mile instructors were fantastic. The boys rotated through three 90-minute activities. The first was primarily physical, with hill runs, pull-ups and climbs. The second eased down the physicality and placed a greater focus on teamwork, looking at log carries and rope climbs. The third, dauntingly named Fire and Ice, challenged the boys physically and psychologically as they moved between training in a 43-degree tent and a cold-water plunge. The instructors helped the team develop as a group and guided them to help control their breathing as a method to manage stress. The day culminated with a huge (and much needed) barbeque. On the Wednesday morning, we had another short training session before heading back to Taylors’, tired but happy.
Our boys worked incredibly hard and were a credit to the school. A huge thanks to Mr De Weymarn, Mr Hale, Mr Tod and Mr Richardson for coming on the trip.
