COUNTY cricket teams go on pre-season tour to Dubai or the Caribbean while Premier League football clubs take part in exotically-named summer competitions pulled together by multi-millionaire backers in the Far East or USA, writes Paul Smith.
Life in rugby union’s English Championship is – needless to say – somewhat more ordinary. It is totally in keeping with the second tier’s understated image therefore that Coventry’s players, coaches and support staff camped at a rugby club in Lincolnshire.
While recovery sessions in the jacuzzi or golf on an internationally-renowned course have not exactly been on the agenda for Alex Rae and his squad, Cov’s boss still bubbles with enthusiasm about the trip.
Rae said: “We gave the lads the option to stay in tents or to go and rent a campervan providing they’re based on site.
“To be honest there’s all sorts going on – a couple of players have even borrowed Mum and Dad’s caravan.
“James Scaysbrook, Gordon Ross and myself are in a three-man tent and I detest camping but it’s good fun!
“We don’t have much money to spend but thought it would be important to get away, spend some time together and build some bonds.”
Coventry’s main sponsor Food Heroes have played a key part in pulling the trip together thanks to owner Simon Martin’s strong East Midlands connections.
Rae added: “Simon arranged for us to camp for three days at Sleaford Rugby Club.
“After the Moseley game we did some training at the rugby club and we also went to the beach on the east coast to train there.
“We’ve brought one of the chefs with us to cook barbecues and we’re doing some coaching at a school and at the rugby club
“We’re also going go-karting and doing a load of fun stuff to help everyone get to know each other a bit better.”
Club captain Jordon Poole views the prospect of camping with similar amounts of suspicion.
Poole said: “I’ve been camping but wouldn’t say I like camping.
“I’m therefore being a bit selfish and keeping my tent to myself but it’s not exactly luxurious, in fact I’d probably describe it as looking like a bin bag.
“But it’s good fun for a few days and another good test for us and we all know just how valuable the team bonding will be for us.”
Cov’s next game is the pre-season friendly against Chinnor at the Butts Park Arena on Friday, September 13 with kick-off at 7.30pm.
