The Springboks arrived in Jersey in good spirits on Monday to get their Outgoing Tour preparations underway.
They will be based in the Channel Islands between England and France for a week-long training camp before departing for Scotland for the opening Test of international competition in November.
The Rugby Championship title holders will face Edinburgh, Scotland (Sunday, November 10), London, England (Saturday, November 16) and Cardiff, Wales (Saturday, November 23) in their traditional end-of-year tour.
Springboks’ Director of Athletics Andy Edwards is excited about the training camp being held on the scenic island, saying it is the perfect destination to further the team’s preparations ahead of what will be a tough tour against three new opponents.
“This is our first time together since the Rugby Championship,” Edwards said. “The players have been doing different things over the past few weeks so it’s great to get back together and regroup.”
“Vodacom URC players have suffered downtime while other players have been playing, with players based in the UK and Europe also returning from their clubs and Japanese players on rest.
“The most important thing is for the coaches to get back into the swing of things in terms of trying to make smart plans and tighten things up again before the internationals in November.
“Because we are in Jersey, close to England, it will make the transition easier for the players ahead of the tour in November.”
Of training camp at the new location, Edwards said: “Jersey has everything we need and is close to the UK. I won’t have to worry about a long trip, especially since I’m heading to Scotland next. First tests are very positive.
“It’s also a small island, so it gives us the opportunity to experience something different.
“I don’t think anyone in this group has ever been to Jersey. Moreover, they have world-class facilities that are only a few years old and have all the requirements for our high-performance needs. Gym and playground.
“The L’Horizon hotel where the Boks are based overlooks the sea, so from a team perspective we are able to work hard in terms of rugby intensity while also achieving a balance of downtime and social cohesion before Tests.”
Edwards added: “Some of the players who were in the UK with the Vodacom URC team have already adapted to the weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere. However, for players who have been in South Africa, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the climatic conditions. “Here are the conditions.”
Over the weekend, the South African-based players flew direct from Johannesburg to London on Sunday night for an overnight trip, with a brief layover at Heathrow Airport before a short 40-minute flight to Jersey.
The remaining traveling units arrived from Venice, Montpellier, Bath, Leicester and Dublin respectively.
The players had Monday to rest and recover from the trip to Jersey, with the squad due to begin on-field preparations on Tuesday.
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
