Videos: Preseason 2016 Series Catch Up

11th August 2016 By Munster Rugby

With Munster’s 8-week preseason programme drawing to a close, look back at our exclusive behind-the-scenes video series as we joined the squad on the field and in the gym in preparation for the new season.

While a number of rehabbers and international, U20 and Sevens representatives who returned to the province at later stages will continue with their own respective programmes, the majority of the squad will have completed the full preseason programme in advance of the this year’s Kearys Renault Series where Munster will face Zebre and Worcester Warriors in Waterford and Cork on the 19^th and 26^th of August respectively. Click here to purchase tickets.

WEEK 1 – New Kit and Testing!
Thomond Park was the first port of call for players as they picked up their 2016/17 adidas Munster Rugby kit. The squad supply of kit was delivered two weeks in advance of pre-season, after which it was sorted and distributed to players and team management, each of whom are assigned a squad number. A list of squad numbers and corresponding sizes is made and the bags are filled accordingly, so when then player arrives, all he has to do is wheel the bag away.

Hooker Mike Sherry took us through his new kit…

#Preseason The boys are back ?

1st job, pick up new @adidasrugby kit@Mikesherry24 takes us through his kitbaghttps://t.co/0cEMocCLs7

— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) June 23, 2016

Head of Fitness Aled Walters then took us through Week 1’s induction into preseason which included body fat measurements, medical screening, conditioning and the dreaded 1k test!

WEEK 2 – A Typical Day In Preseason.
A tough three minutes on the Wattbike set players up for the training day ahead as they began their first strength, size and conditioning sessions of preseason. S&C Coach PJ Wilson took us through a typical day.

WEEK 3 – Making A Splash In Lahinch.
Things stepped up a gear in Week 3 where, after big lifts, lung busting conditions sessions and a reintroduction to skills and contact, it was off to Lahinch in Co. Clare where the squad enjoyed a dip in the Atlantic as part of their active recovery. S&C Coach Aidan O'Connell told us more.

WEEK 4 – Big Lifts In The Gym.
S&C Coach Adam Sheehan looked back at Week 4’s strength session and discussed the big numbers reached in both the squat and bench press! Week 4 was one of the toughest weeks of preseason and the strength session was a reassessment of the benchmark laid down by players in Week 1, with players also being retested at the end of preseason.

WEEK 5 – The Mobility Project.
S&C Coach PJ Wilson went through The Mobility Project where players work on their soft tissue quality and optimal ranges of motion in priming themselves for the day's training.

WEEK 6 – Speed Tech & GPS.
Focusing on Speed Tech, Adam Sheehan explained how the S&C Department use data captured from Catapult GPS technology to continually modify the conditioning framework.

WEEK 7 – Nutrition.
So what do players eat to both fuel and recover during times of heavy workload? Performance Nutritionist Catherine Norton looked at the importance of nutrition, discussing typical preseason meals and the most gifted cooks amongst the squad!