WORCESTER Warriors’ players are set to swap sweltering Sixways for scorching Spain as preparations hot up for the new Premiership season.

Director of rugby Alan Solomons and his troops will jet off to Valencia on Sunday for a gruelling week-long training camp.

Warriors’ squad have endured searing heat since beginning pre-season three weeks ago but Solomons has refused to go easy on his players.

And he believes a training block in Spain where they will face temperatures of more than 30 degrees every day will do them the power of good.

“I am very happy with the progress we have made,” Solomons said.

“We started slowly and rightly so but we are doing really well at the moment so we are looking forward to going to our camp in Spain on Sunday.

“I think that will be very important.

“We have got some new players and new staff so I just think that it’s ideal for us to have a good, hard camp.

“I said last season that we were going to do that after having five weeks off and I said it would be tough.

“But it will be enjoyable as well.”

Solomson said the strength and conditioning work had steadily ramped up as they look to hit the ground running next term.

Warriors also visit Italy next month for their friendly against Benneton on Friday, August 10 before hosting Championship side Hartpury on Saturday, August 18.

“The players all received off-season programmes, obviously not the guys that were rehabbing but all the other players and they have been pretty good,” Solomons continued.

“I am really pleased about the effort that has been put in.

“The conditions are pretty warm but everyone is giving absolutely everything.

“You have got one shot at your conditioning and that’s usually the opening six weeks of your pre-season.

“After that, you are pretty much into playing so the first four weeks will be focused heavily on conditioning but obviously the rugby balls are out and we are doing rugby work.

“When we return after the camp we will start changing that balance a little bit more towards the rugby and then we will prepare for our friendlies.”

Solomons also felt the trip to Spain would be a great way for their new signings and backroom staff having added head coach Rory Duncan and attack and backs coach Neil Doak this summer to get to know each other.

“I am not an expert on Spain as I have only been to Madrid, Malaga and Seville but we will be near Valencia,” Solomons said.

“It’s a nice place.

“Next Wednesday will be an opportunity for bonding and we will do team stuff on Tuesday afternoon.

“We leave late on Friday which is good as we can get another full day in.”