The Pakistan rugby team’s preparations for the upcoming HSBC Asian 5-nation Div III event entered their last phase on Saturday. The weekend’s combined camp’s first day went well in Lahore rugby ground with head coach Mike Pirrit instructing the players for the whole day in hot conditions showing personal interest in their training. The weekend camp’s highlight will be a warm up game between Pakistan national team and Punjab rugby team on Sunday at 4.30 pm. The match will provide Mike a chance to watch the players and test different combinations. Last Sunday a match was held between national team and Islamabad Jinn which was won by the formers 42-0.
The team is undergoing training in two sessions on alternative days. Besides rugby drills and fitness, the boys were also having training in the gym. Last year captain and one of the founding members of the Islamabad Jinn Shair Aslam said: “The boys have responded well to Mike’s coaching, which is able to push the boys to achieve higher standards. This year the competition is tougher so we have to work that much harder.” Lahore captain Haji Anwar commented: “What has been effective about his coaching is that even though he has brought some new ideas but first he has just worked on our basic foundations and made them stronger.” Coach Mike Pirrit said: “I am satisfied with the preparation of boys and hopeful that they will perform very well in the tegument. We are working hard in the camps to boost the morale of the players and also stressing on their physical fitness.”
