Scarlet’s rivals Gloucester use Cefn Sidan

Gloucester’s RFC players have reported back for pre-season training in prime condition thanks to a stint in Llanelli Scarlets’ own back yard.

An entourage of more than 60 with the full squad turned up at Pembrey County Park with their new coach and former Scarlets’ coach Nigel Davies.

They set themselves up on Cefn Sidan beach in pods of eight players undertaking strength, stamina, and fitness training including learning skills of ripping the ball from one another.

Included in the Kingsholm charges being put through rigorous fitness testing on Friday was royalty tagged Mike Tindall who married Zara Phillips last year.

Mike’s comment on a wind and windy Cefn Sidan: “Wow this is a wild place. I have never seen so much sand!”

Nigel said he had regularly used Cefn Sidan with the Scarlets and thought this was an opportunity for Gloucester to get a flavour of the “Wild West” they did not ordinarily see.

He said: “We have great ambitions for this season and this form of stamina and skills’ training in different and difficult conditions is a great means of honing player’s skills.

“Pre-season proper starts in earnest today. Building speed and power is always the hardest challenge of all.”

The Cherry and Whites have six weeks until their first pre-season warm-up game, against Leinster on August 11.

Davies believes the new-look squad will be ready to bustle into that clash with intensity and vigour thanks to a punishing regime ahead with a little bit of help from Cefn Sidan.

County executive board member for leisure services Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “Pembrey Country Park is Carmarthenshire’s most popular visitor attraction. You never know who you will meet on a visit there.”