RUGBY: Taunton Titans focus on fitness (From Somerset County Gazette)

RUGBY: Taunton Titans focus on fitness

5:00pm Thursday 19th July 2012 in Taunton RFC

TITANS coach Tony Yapp has given further news of his plans for Taunton’s rugby stars.

He has announced that the club has recruited fitness specialist Robbie Beddard to take charge of the players’ strength and conditioning.

Yapp said: “Elite levels of athletic fitness are essential if a team hopes to compete at National League level. “A fitness specialist at Exeter Chiefs, Robbie brings cutting edge skills and expertise to head up the Titans’ fitness programme.”

Beddard said: “We’ve conducted basic tests measuring fat levels, body mass index and core aerobic and anaerobic levels.

“We’ve built player profiles and shaped an ongoing programme to build strength and fitness to properly compete at National League level.

“Running a few shuttles, lifting some weights and playing a bit of touch rugby is no longer good enough.

“Elite level sport demands elite level athletic fitness and strength. It’s hard work, the appliance of science and more hard work.

“Each player has an individual programme, regular testing and monitoring and a real opportunity to be stronger and fitter this year.”

Beddard and the Titans have just six weeks before Redruth Reds visit Hyde Park for Taunton’s first National League game of the new season on Saturday, September 1.