Blitzboks keen on player welfare despite fitness demands
The Blitzboks work hard in order to be amongst the fittest contesting the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, but the welfare of squad members will always be a massive priority and player welfare remains a top priority, despite the challenge of a short turnaround time between tournaments.
This was confirmed by the Blitzboks’ conditioning coach, Allan Temple-Jones, upon the team’s arrival in the USA for the fifth tournament of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
“We need to tweak here and there, depending on the circumstances, but because we have a broad base to work from, we are able to do that,” said Temple-Jones from Las Vegas, where the team is preparing for the HSBC Las Vegas Sevens.
“The two-week turnaround between tournaments is pretty flexible and we might drop a contact session for a cross-training session if the guys need that.
“It was a tough turnaround from Wellington and Sydney, so our key focus this time around was basically to get the guys training again. We mix up the training with the intensity building up towards the end of the two weeks.”
The strength and conditioning specialist, who has been with the team since 2007, points to the good work ethic of players on tour and the hard work put in by the squad members staying behind as a reason for their good fitness levels.
“The guys push each other during these sessions and back home, the guys are in the very capable hands of Marius Schoeman and Paul Delport of the SA Rugby Sevens Academy, so we manage to keep those levels up,” Temple-Jones said.
The Springbok Sevens have won in Las Vegas three times since the tournament was moved there and Temple-Jones has been involved in all those wins. The HSBC Las Vegas Sevens take place at the Sam Boyd Stadium from Friday 3 March until Sunday 5 March.
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
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