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Step-by-Step Guide: Wales’ preparations for RWC

Step-by-Step Guide: Wales’ preparations for RWC

Wales’ 47-man training squad face a grueling schedule of preparation ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. They will face temperatures ranging from 42 degrees to minus 150 degrees, will sleep in normobaric hypoxic chambers and will train in surrounding ranging from the deserts of Qatar to the peaks of the Swiss Alps. Here we give you a step-by-step guide through their training plans.

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Week One: Monday 15th June
Initial conditioning preparation begins at the state-of-the-art- WRU National Centre of Excellence at the Vale Resort.  Each player in the squad has been given a tailored four-week rest period following the conclusion of last season and their return to the Wales squad is staggered once this comes to and end.
The first batch of players will arrive in Week One, with further players coming in, in Week Two and Week Three.
Training is heavily conditioning and skills focused with the coaches preparing the squad for July’s training camps. The early morning sessions see the squad begin training at around 7.00am with the full on schedule ending early afternoon.
 
Week Two: Monday 22nd June
Training continues at the NCE with more players linking up with the squad as their rest period comes to an end.
 
Week Three: Monday 29th June
All the squad come together this week for final few days of preparation at the NCE before the squad depart for:
 
Training Camp One: Fiesch, Switzerland (July 1 – July 15)
The squad will head to Switzerland for 15 days on July 1 for their first training camp in Fiesch.  The squad will base themselves at 2250m for an intensive block of training, working to a stimulus of living at high altitude whilst training at low altitude.  Early mornings and long days will be on the schedule for the squad.
 
Week Six: Monday 20th July
Training Camp Two: Doha, Qatar (July 20 – July 29)
The squad will face further punishing training as they travel to the heat of the Qatar and will spend nine days in Doha. Under the guidance of the Aspetar Sports Hospital and training at the world-renowned Aspire Sports Centre, the squad will be pushed in extreme heat that can exceed 40 degrees. The heat training will be combined with altitude methods once again with the players sleeping in hypoxic chambers that can replicate up to 4500m above sea level.
 
Week Eight: Monday 3rd August
After returning from Doha, the focus turns to the first Dove Men Test against Ireland on Saturday.  The squad will have a couple of days rest at the start of the week before basing themselves at the Vale Resort ahead of the game against the Irish.
 
Dove Men Test: Wales v Ireland (Saturday 8th August)
 
Week Nine: Monday 10th August
Training Camp Three: North Wales (August 10 – August 12)
The squad will travel to North Wales following their opening warm-up game for a short training camp based at Parc Eirias.  Further details will be released regarding this camp.
 
Training Camp Four: Spala, Poland (August 16 – August 23)
Towards the end of the week the squad will depart for the familiar surroundings of Poland.  Spala was the venue for the bulk of Wales’ 2011 RWC preparation and the squad will face a grueling week of training under the eyes of the physical performance and coaching departments.
 
Week Eleven: Monday 24th August
After returning from Poland at the weekend the squad will be given a few days rest before preparing for the return fixture against Ireland in Dublin.
 
Ireland v Wales (Saturday 29th August)
 
Week Twelve: Monday 31st August
RWC SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT – MONDAY 31st August
Wales squad for the 2015 RWC will be announced on Monday 31st August, with the 31 players for the tournament confirmed.

The squad will be based at the Vale Resort as they prepare for their final warm-up clash against Italy.
 
Dove Men Test: Wales v Italy (Saturday 5th September)
 
Week Thirteen: Monday 7th September
Squad will go through their final preparations at the National Centre of Excellence as the countdown to the tournament reaches just one week.
 
Week Fourteen: Monday 14th September
Thirteen grueling weeks of preparation are over. 
Wales will begin their 2015 RWC campaign at the Millennium Stadium against Uruguay on Sunday 20th September.

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