Rugby coaches are a special kind of crazy. Here are some of the maddest training methods ever adopted in the build-up to Rugby World Cups.
1. BUNNY BATTERING
Jim Hamilton, who attended the camp in France last June before the Rugby World Cup spoke of his shock at being ordered to batter with wild rabbits to death. He claimed Cotter picked on teammate Richie Gray, who did not want to take part in the slaughter.
2. KAMP STAALDRAAD
It was a military-style "boot camp" organized as a "team building" exercise for the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks (or Boks), during their preparation for the 2003 Rugby World Cup (RWC). Details of the camp emerged in the South African media, resulting in protest from the upper administrative levels of South African rugby.
- The team was ordered to climb into a foxhole naked and sing the national anthem while ice-cold water were being poured over their heads. During their time in the hole, recordings of (used as England's national anthem) and the New Zealand All Blacks haka were played at full volume.
- It was confirmed that firearms were present at the camp, although reports varied as to whether they were ever pointed at anyone.
- The players were forced to crawl naked across gravel.
- They also were ordered to spend a night in the bush, during which they were to kill and cook chickens, but not eat them.
3. ESCAPING CRASHED HELICOPTER
In the run-up to 2003 Sir Clive Woodward made the England squad escape from a crashed helicopter.
Jason Robinson confirmed the story was true in an interview with Yahoo.
"Doing that simulation is a real mental test. Speaking to the boys who did it, they found it quite petrifying. As soon as the helicopter went over in the water you can’t see a thing, so you have to trust the guy next to you.
"What Clive did was test us mentally, and he made us the toughest team at the time and we could handle anything which came at us.
"It made us stronger, and as a result, we made history."
4.BAYWATCH BONDING TRIP
England’s World Cup training squad went on a secret 24-hour excursion to test their endurance skills on a Baywatch-style lifeguard course in Newquay, Cornwall, as preparations intensified for the tournament in Japan.
It is understood the squad were not told where they were going and were not allowed access to their phones before they were taken on the four-hour drive to Towan Beach on the north Cornish coast.
Eddie Jones, the England head coach, watched on as his players practiced lifeguard rescue techniques, first aid, life support, ocean skills - including board paddling - and pool activities.
5. MARINE MADNESS
The squad spent time with the elite amphibious force in the run-up to the 1999 tournament, but Woodward says there wasn't enough time for their lessons to take effect. His side suffered a heavy loss to South Africa in the quarter-finals.
Four years later, it was a different story, as the Marines culture had really taken hold within the England set-up.
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