TRAINING “hard” with “high intensity” and a “high work-rate” will be “vital” for Worcester Warriors in their relegation run-in, insists Paddy Anson.

Anson is Warriors’ new head of strength and conditioning says the players can’t afford to be “soft” and “weak” heading into matches in the Aviva Premiership.

Anson spent a season at Warriors during the John Brain era.

He has replaced Chris Hart, who has been put on gardening leave by Warriors until his contract expires in the summer.

Warriors have been hampered by a lot of injuries this campaign and Anson will be working hard to get players on to the field as quickly as possible.

“The strength and conditioning department, the medical department and the rugby department are working very closely to make sure that happens,” said Anson.

“The reality is that with the high demands, physical demands and the contact nature of the sport, you are always going to carry injuries. If you can minimise those, then all the better. What you can’t afford to do is to be soft and weak and then play at the weekend.

“The softer you train the less hard you will be at the weekend.

“If you train hard with a high intensity and high work-rate regardless of sometimes the injuries that might come along the way, you will be able to put that out on the pitch on a Saturday or Sunday.”

The former Royal Marine has previously worked in the Premiership with Gloucester and Exeter Chiefs.

Anson says his new role is “full-on” and involves working closely with players during the training sessions.

“It’s a full-on role where you are monitoring what the players are doing and working very closely with the strength and conditioning department and the medical department to make sure players are recovering,” said Anson.

“It’s vital they are recovering well, especially now we’re at the business end of the season.

“In the sessions, we are all mic'd up to each other to make sure the duration and intensity levels have been reached.”

Anson is also an RFU-qualified coach and believes it helps him in his role in the strength and conditioning department.

“I am a level three-qualified RFU coach and I did that in 2004/05 because I saw the need to have a good rugby knowledge as well as being a strength and conditioning coach,” said Anson.

“You don’t want to be a person who has barriers to their own development.

“You have to make sure what you are doing is specific to the game and the only way I believe you can do that is by getting your coaching badges so you know what the players and coaches are having to deliver and trying to succeed in.”