Cardiff Blues squad and off-field updates.

Cari wrote:All right boys, just wondering is there any news on developments with CAP? I havent seen any work being done there, but that could be due to the impending olympic events?

Cari wrote:ooh..I haven't seen much when I'm passing, but they could well be working inside the grounds first - getting the loos and that sorted.

Cari wrote:That's fair enough Wales. If it aint broke...they managed all right before and there was no ambulance chasing afterwards.

With Cardiff Blues receiving confirmation of their friendly fixtures in August, Phil Davies is pleased with the progress made so far in the summer.
Speaking at the Vale of Glamorgan Training Centre, Davies, said,
"We've restructured the rugby programme and have six conditioners working with the players, whereas previously there was only two."

"To have that manpower supporting the players is great."

"We've seen some big increases in their physical size and decreases in their body fat, so it's been working really well so far."

"I'm really pleased with everyone's efforts and I've been very encouraged."

"The staff are very hard working and motivated and the players are the same."

'We have some exciting pre season fixtures coming up and everyone's looking forward to them."

Cardiff Blues play the following fixtures in August:

Toyota Free State Cheetahs

Toyota Free State Cheetahs v Cardiff Blues
Saturday 4 August, Grey's College, kick off TBC

Worcester Warriors

Cardiff Blues v Worcester Warriors**
Saturday 11 August; 2.30pm kick off, Cardiff Arms Park
**Admission to the match is included in the season ticket package

Gloucester Rugby

Gloucester Rugby v Cardiff Blues
Saturday 18 August, 3.00pm kick off, Kingsholm

Bath Rugby

Bath Rugby v Cardiff Blues
Friday 24 August, 7.30pm kick off, The Recreation Ground

wales606 wrote:Disappointed Rush has retired, he would be useful cover at the least. Luke Hamilton will get a lot more gametime, with Pretorious now first choice 8.

Justin Burnell has left his post with immediate effect now confirmed (pity they couldn't afford to pay off the incompetent Baber too)

Fancy being a professional rugby player? It’s not quite as easy as it seems, as Andy Howell discovered when he spent a day with Phil Davies and his Blues team watching the squad being subjected to a punishing training regime. Here he reports on what goes on behind the scenes...

There is an age-old saying about football stars hating the rigours of pre-season training. Running, running and yet more running to get them ship-shape for the gruelling campaign ahead.

Green Flag Breakdown Cover from £20
Malky Mackay’s Cardiff City stars might have a slightly different perception judging by the look of horror I saw on the faces of some of them as they gazed at the gruelling work-out being undertaken by Phil Davies’ Blues forwards.

Mackay’s Bluebirds and Davies’ Blues share a plush training centre nestled in the Vale of Glamorgan, but the type of training they do is chalk and cheese.

The football players work on passing, skill and speed, and there’s hardly any fat on them.

In rugby, there is an emphasis on power with big muscles, bulk and upper-body strength being important for any member of the pack.

Members of the City squad were heading for a kick-about on their training pitch and had to walk past a Blues forward contingent.

Head fitness coach Trystan Bevan had warned me the six conditioners working at the Blues would be “beasting” the squad. Judging by what I saw, he was spot on.

Backs and forwards were ‘treated’ to a seven-hour day. Each group was ‘subjected’ to two punishing training sessions.

It was compelling viewing, with excruciating pain for many as they pushed sleds laden with weights and threw medicine balls high into the air during some 45 minutes of high-intensity exercise.

And the team spirit which new director of rugby Davies puts so much store on came shining through as players coaxed and cajoled team-mates not to give in.

Popular hooker Marc Breeze seemed to be at the end of his tether as he attempted to shove the sled some 25ft for the umpteenth time.

There was hardly any rest with players having to keep moving for almost the complete duration.

Legs got heavier and heavier and bodies slumped forward, but each managed to keep going.

Breeze appeared to be on the point of throwing up, but courageously continued.

“That was hard,” said the 25-year-old afterwards.

Well, something along those lines, but with a more colourful choice of words.

Prop Nathan Trevett, a regular with Cardiff RFC’s club team, mirrored his view.

“I’ve never done anything like this before, not that tough,” he said, managing to crack a slight smile.

Evidence was provided with the progress being made on the fitness front since the Blues squad – their current Wales internationals don’t return to work until August 6 – gathered on June 11.

Photographs showed the body shapes of a number of players have already markedly changed with fat disappearing and being replaced by a lean look.

“They have been doing real high-intensity work,” explained former Leeds, Scarlets, Cardiff RFC and Wales Under-20 coach Davies, who left a job as assistant at Aviva Premiership side Worcester at the end of last season for the Blues.

He has brought organisation and meticulous planning to pre-season, and the feedback from staff and players was positive.

“There are two fundamentals and they are non-negotiable,” explained Davies. “You have to have a high work ethic and team spirit.

“To be fair, the players and the staff have been fantastic.”

Davies is uncompromising and leaves no stone unturned when it comes to players being fit, having brought in more conditioning experts to raise the number to six.

“I’ve been able to do that thanks to the support of the WRU and the universities,” Davies went on.

While the forwards were being ‘encouraged’ by the trainers and their playing mates, those on rehabilitation programmes following injury, were working out in the gym.

Wales prop cap Scott Andrews and up-and-coming flanker Josh Navidi were among those being put through the mill indoors.

Opening session of the day over, players keeled over and began their recovery.

They had to jump in ice baths, drink supplements, have physio or a massage before being permitted to relax in the team room.

Some shut their eyes and had a nap while others chilled out despite the presence of a table-tennis table.

You’d suspect that some might have been having nightmares with a second session lined up barely an hour later.

The ‘pretty ones’ – the phrase given to the backs by the forwards – had done their sled and medicine ball session earlier and were first to return to the fray.

The second session was anaerobic games and rugby skills.

A brisk 10-minute warm-up, in which they concentrated on handling skills, was followed by more skill work, running patterns and phase-play.

There was wrestling, work with tackle shields, footwork and evasion, with players slaloming between poles before off-loading to a supporting team-mate.

Rest was at a premium and, as players tired, you could see how their minds reacted slower to orders and mistakes crept in.

When they trudged off at the end with stiff legs, pounding lungs, even veteran fly-half Ceri Sweeney was noticeably less chirpy than he had been beforehand.

As they disappeared for more massages, ice baths, protein supplements, lunch and a meeting, the forwards reappeared.

Their session mirrored that of the backs.

It was more Breeze’s forte and he showed up well.

So did South African born back-row forward Andries Pretorius, whose athleticism and high fitness levels were again clear to see.

If you think two sessions a day is bad enough, then spare a thought for the two days a week when they do three!

Commitment, team spirit and fitness levels can’t be questioned.

“We have put some new systems in place and everybody has reacted to it positively and we have already seen rewards,” said Davies.

“The target is to say we have got the very last drop of potential out of each player.”

Blues supporters can be assured that if the side doesn’t succeed under Davies this season, it certainly won’t be for a lack of effort!



Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/07/15/phil-davies-subjects-cardiff-blues-to-punishing-new-fitness-regime-91466-31396119/#sitelife-commentsWidget-bottom#ixzz20gmnFfZu

maestegmafia wrote:The loss of Gethin is massive but I'm not so sure Lua Lua is too. He was often the bloke who inspired a bit of magic, but when heads were a bit down he was not the man to turn to.

Cory Allen, Jamie Roberts, Gavin Evans and Daf Hewitt are all good lads plenty of strength.

gowales wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:The loss of Gethin is massive but I'm not so sure Lua Lua is too. He was often the bloke who inspired a bit of magic, but when heads were a bit down he was not the man to turn to.

Cory Allen, Jamie Roberts, Gavin Evans and Daf Hewitt are all good lads plenty of strength.

Evans and Hewitt are not HC or Amlin quality though

Morgannwg wrote:I hope to see a fully fit Roberts run out for the Blues, going on his barn-storming runs. We ain't seen them since the world cup because he's been carrying injuries since then (hence being the dummy runner on most backline moves during 6 NAtions). I also hope it is Allen on his shoulder wearing the 13 jersey. Phil Davies will likely give him the chance, knowing Phil.

L. Williams, J. Tovey, H. Robinson, J. Roberts, C. Allen, T. James, L. Halfpenny; that would be my pick! The forwards really need to give these backs a good platform to do their thing. Good luck.

maestegmafia wrote:

Good news about that handsome looking backline. Lloyd Williams and Tovey is the most exciting Halfback combo at the blues in years.