Players made to think outside the box

With the new Aviva Premiership season drawing ever nearer, the Exeter Chiefs continued their pre-season build-up by being put through their paces by the Royal Navy.

During two days of training at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Rob Baxter's first team squad immersed themselves in a series of different challenges aimed at improving not only their decision-making, but also their leadership skills as well.

Challenges included transporting equipment and themselves across a mock chasm using ropes and wooden planks, whilst the players' were also tested when they spent time out on the River Dart carrying out various water-borne activities, including competitive gig racing

The challenges were similar to those given to the Royal Navy Officer Cadets to develop their leadership skills during their 30-week initial naval training course.

Warrant Officer Bill Bailey, BRNC’s Physical Development Officer, said: “The idea of the sessions with the Chiefs was to move away from a physical challenge and to introduce them to various styles of leadership, that tested them as individuals and as small teams; which they can then hopefully transfer onto the pitch.”

Keen to challenge his squad in different areas away from the training fields, Chiefs' Head Coach, Rob Baxter, added: "It's always nice to get the squad into different environments, particularly those that you can use to challenge them in ways that we can't achieve in normal rugby training.

"Going down to Dartmouth for a few days was not only one of those opportunities to test the guys at something a little bit different, but it got them thinking outside of the box, which you have to do at times on the pitch.

"As I said, it was nice to put the guys into a different environment, but at the same time let them make use of a great facility that is almost right on our doorstep."