Wigan receive warm Welsh welcome

Wigan rugby director Kris Radlinksi has revealed that the squad enjoyed their recent preseason trip to Wales, and left a good impression behind them after their return.

The Warriors trained at the home of South Wales Ironmen at Merthyr RFC, before heading north for more work in Snowdonia, in North Wales.

“I contacted them completely out of the blue asking if they would host us,” Radlinksi wrote in his blog on the Warriors’ official website.

“The hospitality that they gave us felt like we had known them forever. They could not have looked after us any better.

“We gave permission for local coaches to come down and watch and it was a really cool family atmosphere down there.

“The session itself was pure rugby. No fitness, just technical skills.

“There were some focus games thrown in there and some individual elements.

“I took the opportunity to be on the field and walk around the back and generally get in the way.

“I loved the intensity of the training session, it was slick. Noise was high, which is always a good indicator of the lads’ focus in the session.

“Our training sessions are a well-oiled operation. From pre-habilitation, to warm-up, to injured players, to video recording, to team coaching, to one on one coaching- no stone is left unturned, with every session previewed and reviewed.

“It’s impressive to watch the staff work with everybody knowing their role.”

The Warriors players also made sure that they conducted themselves in an exemplary manner, which left a positive impression on the members of the Welsh public they encountered while on their journey north.

“After the session we ensured that we ‘swept the sheds’ and left a good impression of ourselves,” Radlinski added.

“We then nipped down to the clubhouse were the players were fed and watered.

“The next step was to hand out the next postcode. It was a long drive north to Snowdonia. The guys were told that they needed to be there in six hours time.

“On my way back to Wigan, I received this e mail from a guy called Martin Jones which read as follows: ‘Hi, a group of your players turned up in our little village pub in mid Wales on Saturday, they were amazing ambassadors for Wigan Warriors and the game of Rugby League. It was a pleasure to be in the company of these professional sportsmen who made a significant impression in a very short space of time.'”