TOP rugby players were put through their paces by a regiment based near Tidworth.

Perham Down-based soldiers from the 22 Engineer Regiment (22RE) hosted a team building exercise at Swinton Barracks for the London Broncos Rugby League team.

The Super League squad took part in a military exercise designed to challenge them both mentally and physically.

Staff Sergeant Mike Thompson, 22RE rugby league officer, organised the drill which focused on military physical training methods using command tasks and teamwork techniques, weapon handling, survivability plus basic fieldcraft giving the Broncos a condensed look at army life.

He said: “The physical challenges we have set up for them are completely different to what they train for, something they’re not used to doing. As professional sportsmen the Broncos are robust, fit individuals but can they carry 90kgs between six people over a set distance up-hill.”

With less than a month before the start of the league head coach Danny Ward wanted an intensive training camp that would challenge his squad, he said: “There are a lot of skills that are transferable between the army and what we do but I think they will find the sleep deprivation the toughest.

“Everyone gets a bit cranky when they are tired, that is what we want, to see who handles it the best.”

Despite the overnight temperatures of minus 5°C, the players stayed out in two-man shelters, cooking 24-hour ration packs, whilst providing guard sentry for a simulated army infiltration.

Eddie Battye, prop forward said: “I’m pretty tired, we all had a rough night’s sleep, We think pre-season training is hard but what the army guys do is just another level.

“When we find it tough and our backs against the wall we can look back at what we’ve done her these last days and get through it and get to the other side.”