While pre-season training has a fearsome reputation in all sports, what the Connacht Rugby lads are up to looks really tough.
Connacht made their debut in the Heineken Cup last season and they are back again this season, with a squad that is even stronger thanks to some smart acquisitions like Nathan White, Willie Faloon and Dan Parks.
And it looks like they are going to be well prepared too as these pictures show. The Connacht Rugby website has posted up some shots of the squad being put through their paces on Bearna’s Silver Strand.

It probably wasn’t too warm and running up and down wet sand would be bad enough. Push ups would be worse.

As for tug-of-war with your bare hands, well, JOE will pass on that thanks.

You can see more of the pictures here on the Connacht website. We wonder if Leinster, Munster and Ulster are scared?
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