When the Waratahs headed along to North Cronulla Beach for their final training session of 2017, many of the players would have hoped for a light jog and a swim.
However, they had another thing coming.
The players were made to carry one another up and down the sand dunes in a gruelling final session, before heading off on their Christmas break.
Waratahs head strength and conditioning coach Bradley Harrington, himself from the Sutherland Shire, said it was not only about fitness but also becoming “comfortable in uncomfortable environments”.
“The team embarked on an hour-long conditioning session that saw them attack 13 different sand dunes in the north Cronulla spot.
“The session began bright and early at 6.30am, focusing on elements of speed and endurance as the players made their way up the dunes for numerous repeated sprint efforts – each of differing lengths and gradients.
“The players were faced with a multitude of challenges along the way, some requiring them to carry one another up dunes and trudging with linked arms.
“Thirteen different dunes later, the team wrapped up with a recovery swim at North Cronulla Beach.”
The squad has since returned back to training following a Christmas break.
Harrington said sessions like that improved players’ mindset as well as fitness.
“Along with improving aerobic capacity, the focus of the session was to challenge the players’ mindset. They need to learn to become comfortable in uncomfortable environments.
“Fitness and resilience is a big focus for the team this coming season and we thought bringing the boys down to the Wanda sandhills would help us achieve both outcomes.”
The Waratahs get their Super Rugby season underway on Saturday, February 24 at Allianz Stadium against the Stormers.
The Super Rugby competition in 2018 will revert back to a 15-team format.