Gatland takes Wales squad on week long camp to Ireland

WARREN GATLAND is taking his Grand Slam-winning Wales squad on a week long camp to Ireland as part of the principality’s preparations for their two-Test tour of South Africa in June.

Next week, the 2008 Six Nations champions will make full use of the Cryotherapy chamber at White’s Hotel in Wexford Town. Cryotherapy aids the body’s recovery from exercise and allows for more training to be undertaken in a short space of time than would normally be possible.

Gatland accompanied Ireland squads in the past to Spala during his tenure as head coach, and says he wants his squad in peak physical condition for a tough tour against the Springboks.

“Cryotherapy is something that has been around in sport for some time and something I’ve used before at specific times as an aid to training at various camps in Poland whilst I was in charge of Ireland and London Wasps,” said Gatland. “The facilities at the camp in Wexford will be top notch, but as much as anything else this is a chance for us to gather as a group for the first time since the Six Nations, to train together and to prepare ourselves for a tough tour against the Springboks.”