A squad of 40 players were put through their paces in a series of conditioning tests over four days, which was backed up by wrestling and speed sessions, as well as number of field sessions.

“The objective of the camp was to assess where the players are in terms of their conditioning, and while there is work to be done, it is pleasing to see the willingness among the players to do it,” said Raubenheimer. 

“They all know where they are in terms of the fitness levels required for their respective positions, so we have a solid base to build from.”

Raubenheimer said another objective of the assessment camp was to demonstrate ways to train effectively with limited equipment – which is especially useful for the players who do not have access to gyms in the rural areas.

“It seemed as though we were constantly starting from a zero base at each camp in the past, so ensuring that the players have the knowledge and equipment to work on their conditioning daily in their own training environments was a key focus,” said the coach. 

“It is important that we reach a stage where we can go straight into the rugby structures when we assemble in future.

“Thanks to the assistance from the Departments of Sport and Recreation at the various provinces, some of the players are also receiving support with their rehabilitation and testing, so we are improving in that regard as well.”

The players will have a few months to work on their conditioning at their provincial unions before gathering for further training camps later in the year.

“We are planning to assess the players again in May, but this time we will arrange visits to their unions, so that we can see first-hand how they train in their own environments,” said Raubenheimer.