New-look S&C chases speed and power in 2010
Friday, 6 November 2009
A Mudskipper propaganda initiative ;)
The Brumbies’ quest for speed and power has seen a revamp in the side’s Strength & Conditioning (S&C) Department for the 2010 Investec Bank Super 14 season.
Rod Lindsell (Head S&C Coach) and Marcus Kain (S&C Coach) will pair up in a new-look athletic performance team following Damian Marsh’s move to the Queensland Reds after nine years with the Brumbies.
Lindsell’s promotion sees him head the S&C program after five years with the Brumbies. Lindsell, who has also held posts with the Wallabies and Australian Prime Minister’s XV in 2006, spent three years as S&C Coordinator at the Australian Institute of Sport and four years with the NSW Institute of Sport prior to joining Brumbies Rugby.
Lindsell says he’s enjoying the challenge of leading the Brumbies’ S&C program in 2010.
“I see our role as understanding where individuals are at and doing what we can to help them take their game forward,” he said. ““There’s always a push to be fitter and faster but we’re looking to pick our battles, make sure where we achieve that really matters and transfers to a player’s performance on the field.
“It’s not necessarily all about the physical side, there’s a mental aspect as well. It’s about knowing the personalities, driving them and working with them as individuals to get the most out of them.”
Kain joins the ACT province from the National Rugby League’s (NRL) St George Illawarra Dragons where he spent two years (2007 and 2008) as NRL Speed Coach and Rehabilitation Coordinator, and Assistant S&C Coach. This season he was the High Performance Unit S&C Coach for the Dragons. He also spent two years as Head S&C Coach for the Thirroul Rugby League Club.
Kain’s role will feature overseeing the Brumbies’ speed component as well as working with players during their injury rehabilitation process. The former beach sprinter is well-equipped to manage the Brumbies’ speed needs having been crowned three-times National Beach Sprint Relay Champion between 2003 and 2005 and winning three consecutive World Beach Relay titles in 2002, 2004 to 2006.
Kain says he’s looking forward to working with the Brumbies this season.
“My main strength is my speed background and my rehab experience that I had at the Dragons for two full years but I’ll be looking to work in with Rod and use my broader S&C experience to mix into what he’s put in place for next season,” he said.
“The Brumbies are a very well structured club that has recruited well for 2010. It’s exciting to be working under a new structure and in a fresh set-up. There are a number of big name players within the squad which makes it very exciting, as does the challenge of crossing from league to union.”
Brumbies Head Coach Andy Friend says the pair is a perfect combination for the Brumbies.
“We’ve got a real focus on speed and power this year and Rod and Marcus will compliment each other well in helping us achieve that,” he said.
“Rod’s been around the organisation for a number of years now. He knows the players and the structures inside out and this is a fantastic opportunity for him to lead the program. He did a fantastic job overseeing a number of the guys during the off-season, he’s extremely knowledgeable across all facets of S&C and I believe he knows how to get the best out of the players.
“Marcus’ expertise is in the speed department and he’ll add a great deal to our performance. We received a number of quality applications for his role, but when we looked through his resume, his skill set fitted what we were after. He’s been with the Dragons for four years and he received some glowing references from Wayne Bennett and some of the players there, and having met with him he fits the ‘good bloke’ mould which means he’ll fit in well here.”
The Brumbies will begin their pre-season on Sunday (8 November) with their annual Orientation Day before taking to the field on Monday (9 November).
http://www.brumbies.com.au/act.rugby/page/57133
Brumbies kick off pre-season 2010
Monday, 9 November 2009
Brumbies propaganda Unit mudsipper
The Brumbies have begun on-field preparations for the 2010 Investec Bank Super 14 season with the commencement of their pre-season training today.
Twenty-five players, including selected member of the Brumbies Academy, took to Griffith Oval and the Brumbies Training Centre this morning, including Brumbies newcomer Josh Valentine. Fellow new recruits Pat McCabe, Andrew Smith and Jerry Yanuyanutawa were absent from training, attending a Rugby Union Players Association Induction Camp, along with flanker Henry Vanderglas.
The squad was also without its 11-man Wallaby contingent – including recruits Matt Giteau and Rocky Elsom, with the current Australian Spring Tour representatives due to return to Brumbies training in January 2010. Stirling Mortlock, who was recently ruled out of taking part in the Wallabies’ Grand Slam Tour due to a calf injury, will also rejoin the Brumbies in early January.
The pre-season training block will feature an intensive 11-week program, including strength, fitness and speed components, community involvement and team building aspects. The pre-season will culminate with matches against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday, 29 January and the Waratahs at Viking Park on Thursday, 4 February.
Brumbies Head Coach Andy Friend says the pre-season is a critical period of the year.
“This is where it begins,” he said. “We do have an intense pre-season ahead of us but this is the time to get an understanding for the program, starting to gel the team and making some valuable gains physically.
“Our focus through this part of the season is building speed and power, and this is the time we can put money in the bank, so to speak, in achieving that.
“In the coming season we want to back our skills and attack from anywhere if the opposition give us space. When we don’t have the ball, we want to attack the opposition ball as a team with real physicality and aggression – we want that ball back. We also have a focus on how we start and finish everything we do. This six-week block provides a great opportunity to develop those habits which will become the ‘Brumbies Style’ in 2010.”
The Brumbies will train through until Sunday, 20 December before breaking over Christmas. Training will resume on Monday, 4 January.
2010 Brumbies Squad
Ben Alexander*, Adam Ashley-Cooper*, Mitchell Chapman, Mark Chisholm*, Huia Edmonds, Rocky Elsom*, Francis Fainifo, Matt Giteau*, Ben Hand, Stephen Hoiles (c)*, Peter Kimlin*, Christian Lealiifano, Salesi Ma’afu, Alfi Mafi, Pat McCabe, Stephen Moore*, Stirling Mortlock*, Patrick Phibbs, Guy Shepherdson*, Andrew Smith#, George Smith*, Tyrone Smith, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Sitaleki Timani, Matt Toomua, Josh Valentine*, Henry Vanderglas#, Jerry Yanuyanutawa
2010 CA Brumbies Squad – By Position
Prop – Ben Alexander*, Salesi Ma’afu, Guy Shepherdson*, Jerry Yanuyanutawa
Hooker – Huia Edmonds, Stephen Moore*
Lock – Mark Chisholm*, Ben Hand, Peter Kimlin*, Sitaleki Timani
Back row – Mitchell Chapman, Rocky Elsom*, Stephen Hoiles (c)*, George Smith*, Henry Vanderglas
Scrumhalf –Patrick Phibbs, Josh Valentine*
Flyhalf – Matt Giteau*, Christian Lealiifano, Matt Toomua
Wing – Francis Fainifo, Alfi Mafi, Afusipa Taumoepeau
Centre –Stirling Mortlock*, Andrew Smith, Tyrone Smith
Fullback – Adam Ashley-Cooper*, Pat McCabe
* denotes Test capped
# denotes rookie contracted
bold players currently on Wallabies Spring Tour
‘Stand As One’ and become a CA Brumbies member in 2010. Visit http://www.brumbies.com.au
Brumbies numbers dwindle but spirits soar
The ACT Brumbies are earmarked as a Super14 title contender next season, but as only six blokes ran up and down Griffith Oval yesterday on the first day of training the team hardly looked it.
Instead of the usual atmosphere of of a big, boisterous squad, it was eerily quiet as six backs and then a group of 12 forwards pushed their bodies to the limit for the first time in more than a month.
And while it sounds strange, the fact the Brumbies are putting small groups through their paces is the same reason why they will be a force next year.
With 11 players in Europe with the Wallabies, the Brumbies have the most players absent from pre-season training of all the Australian squads. They won't have a full complement of players until after Christmas.
Of those in Canberra, it was new scrumhalf recruit Josh Valentine who won the team's first 2km time trial yesterday with incumbent No9 Patrick Phibbs just behind.
Despite racing against just a handful of teammates, Phibbs said the excitement of potential success was building within the squad.
''It's early on in the year; you don't want to peak too early,'' Phibbs said.
''Everyone's glad to be back into it ... it sounds like it's going to be an exciting year with the personnel we've got.
''Everyone is really keen to get in early. It makes you want to work even harder and knowing that no one's position is safe is that added incentive for training.''
The Brumbies will go through exhausting sessions over the next six weeks.
Former skipper Stirling Mortlock was supposed to join the Wallabies in Europe last week, but a calf injury forced him out of the tour.
Instead, he will return to Brumbies training in January.
The veteran centre has pledged to play the 2010 season with the Brumbies despite the prospect of his international career being over.
Coach Andy Friend and strength and condition mentor Rod Lindsell have designed a program to make the Brumbies the strongest and fittest in Super rugby.
Gone are the beep test and monotonous running sessions.
Instead, the players' every movement will be tracked by a global positioning system while they run up the hill at Parliament House and embark on a gruelling bike ride at Mt Kosciuszko.
And Lindsell hoped the variation in the team's fitness work would keep the players motivated.
''It's a mix of new school and old school,'' Lindsell said. ''Having ridden 50km with Friendy the other week, [the trip to Mt Kosciuszko] is certainly going to be a challenge for the bigger boys. When you're carrying 120kg up 1km and 3km climbs it's tough so it's not going to be bike riding there will be a fair bit of pushing bikes I think.''
The beep test will be replaced by a series of 300m shuttle runs, the 2km time trial and speed work at the Australian Institute of Sport.
The bike ride at Mt Kosciuszko will replace on-field work in the third week of training.
Phibbs conceded having nowhere to hide in the pre-season heat was daunting. But Lindsell was confident it would propel the Brumbies to success.
''We want to be best, we want to be powerful and we want to be fit, but this year it's more about the individuals,'' Lindsell said.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...px?storypage=0
Brumbies land a Swift pre-season blow
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Brumbies Media Unit
NSW Swifts head coach Julie Fitzgerald takes the Brumbies through their paces during pre-season training.:confused:
The Brumbies have swapped footballs for netballs as a means of growing their skill set ahead of the 2010 Investec Bank Super 14 season.
Julie Fitzgerald, head coach of the NSW Swifts, was on hand today to put the players through their paces in a series of footwork, agility and peripheral vision drills.
Fitzgerald, who has undertaken similar cross-code coaching with the NSW Blues cricket team, has overseen the Swifts since 1997 and was selected to coach the World 7 Team in their series win over the Silver Ferns this year.
The five-time premiership-winning coach says there are a number of similarities between the two sports.
“In netball there are a few things we can bring to rugby, particularly footwork, agility, spatial awareness and peripheral vision.
“[Both rugby and netball] are games that are looking for space and you need that longer vision to concentrate on the ball and see what’s going on around you.
“Agility’s the key to every sport. Netball bases itself on agility and the more agile a rugby player is, the more effective they’re going to be.
“These things are very important to our game and we just wanted to bring a bit of that [to their training].”
Brumbies Head Coach Andy Friend, who had previously involved netball coaches in his rugby program at the Australian Institute of Sport, says there are significant benefits to be taken from other codes.
“A lot of our players tend to solely focus on the ruck and the football,” he said. “We had a ‘where’s the space?’ mentality last season and a lot of them became better at identifying where the space is. Sports like soccer, netball and basketball are sports where everything’s happening around you and where [identifying the space] is second nature to the players – it’s not necessarily second nature in rugby.
“[Today’s training session] is a bit of variety for the boys in terms of their skills training and gives them some lessons in keeping their heads up and finding the space.”
http://www.brumbies.com.au/act.rugby/page/57158