Allen joined Gloucester's coaching staff in the 2005-06 season

The bulk of Gloucester's squad have returned for pre-season training in good shape, according to the club's head of conditioning Barney Allen.

Despite the absence of those on summer tours, 30 players turned in for the first day back.

"They've all been taking good care of themselves over the off-season," Allen told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"They've turned up in pretty good shape, there's not too many fatties, thank goodness," he quipped.

Allen stepped up to the job of head of strength and conditioning in November 2009 when Mark Bitcon made the switch to rugby league with Wigan Warriors.

Standing on the scales was the first thing they had to do Barney Allen

Before that he had been strength and conditioning coach working under Bitcon and his predecessor, Mike Anthony.

Although this is his first summer in charge of Gloucester's pre-season fitness work, he admits the first day still had a familiar check for the players.

"Standing on the scales was the first thing they had to do," he said.

"Later on in the week they'll be fat tested, so we'll be able know whether the weight they've put on is good weight or bad weight."

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