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Page last updated at 17:56 GMT, Thursday, 21 October 2010 18:56 UK

Warren Gatland plans cryogenic Wales training camps

By Graham Thomas
BBC Sport Wales

Warren Gatland has signed a contract to be Wales coach until 2015
Warren Gatland has signed a contract to be Wales coach until 2015

Wales are planning training camps at a deep freeze cryogenic centre in Poland ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

It will be the first time Wales have used the facility which exposes players to temperatures of down to -120ºC.

Coach Warren Gatland has organised a succession of squad camps as Wales start their countdown to the tournament in New Zealand in 12 months' time.

Gatland tells Friday's Sport Wales TV programme detailed planning up to the World Cup is now in place.

"We are looking to try and give players a month off at the end of the season, although we may have to stagger that for some, depending on Magners League and Heineken Cup matches," said Gatland.

"We are looking at a camp here at the National Centre of Excellence for about nine days, where the players will work hard.

"We will have a couple of pre-season camps in Poland and then we have two games confirmed against England, home and away, and then probably a third game against Argentina before the World Cup squad is announced.

Under Gatland Wales have used cryogenic technology once before, in 2008, when they visited a health and fitness centre near Wexford in Ireland.

The Irish base has the cold temperature chambers, but the centre in Poland is much bigger and has been used as an Olympic training facility for the past 10 years.

The theory is that cooled muscles aid recovery after training sessions and improve rehabilitation after soft tissue injuries.

Gatland added: "We have gone hard in terms of preparation to ensure players get enough rest time, but also to make sure they will be in their best physical shape.

"From a coaching point of view, we will be able to get our hands on the players and for that six-month period treat them as if we are in a club environment."

Sport Wales - BBC TWO Wales, Fri 1900 BST.



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