A State of Mind

By Mark Stevens
13/7/23

They say “It’s a State of Mind”

Only a select few every get to wear the coveted Green Beret and become a Royal Marine, but once again the Exeter Chiefs were given an insight into the make-up of one of Britain’s elite fighting forces.

Pre-season is a necessary evil ahead of any new campaign, but the hard work and effort put in ahead of the big kick-off can often be the difference between success and failure.

Building on the already strong links between the club and the Royal Marines, the squad reported for duty at the nearby Commando Training Centre at Lympstone to ready themselves for seasonal battle.

In what was two days of intense training, all of which was aimed at not only testing their physical capabilities, but also their mental capabilities, the players responded well to the various challenges laid down to them.

Activities included the players being dispatched to Woodbury Common to undergo the Marines Endurance course (twice), as well as tackling parts of the Tarzan Assault course.

A brief respite was then followed by another swim session and onto the last of the training tasks, the strength-sapping Mud Run in the nearby Exe Estuary. With energy at a premium at this stage, the Chiefs had to dig deep in a series of tasks that included crawling, pushing and carrying through the thick mud.

Head of Strength & Conditioning, Mark Twiggs, himself a former Royal Marine PTI, was delighted with the effort, commitment and performance put in by the entire squad.

“We wanted to test the boys in a different environment,” he said. “What we’ve seen from the guys, both individually and collectively, was outstanding and it’s sure to set the foundations for what we believe will be a very strong pre-season programme.

“At the same time, I wish to thank Commandant Col Chris Haw, CSgt Al Gasson, WO2 John Jackson, WO2 Rich Hawthorn, Capt Matt Maddocks and Major Sean Lerwill, together with all the PTIs at the Commando Training Centre for their support throughout the two days. Everyone knows the link between ourselves at the Royal Marines is very strong, but this has merely helped to galavanise that bond even further.”