SUMMER training will be “very tough” and critical in laying the foundations for next season, insists Worcester Warriors chief Gary Gold.

And the former London Irish, Newcastle Falcons and Bath boss stresses Worcester’s pre-season schedule will “be different” to previous years.

“I am a huge believer in well-conditioned and fit teams and I think if we achieve just that we will be making vast improvements,” said Gold.

“I think pre-season is a critical time when the players need to understand your expectations and you can set the standards.

“It gives you an opportunity to work on the things you deem are the most important in getting a team to the levels they need to perform at.

“Pre-season is going to be a very tough place but we are looking for it and a nice time in the sun to be training hard. I think pre-season is critical for laying the foundations for a successful season.”

Warriors’ squad will be working under the guidance of head of strength and conditioning Paddy Anson who arrived at Sixways in January, a short time before Gold joined the club.

Anson replaced Chris Hart, while high performance director Nick Johnston also left Warriors in April. “It will be different this summer and we are going to do things differently from a break point of view,” said Gold.

“When we come back here, we want to get to work really hard on our own surface and our own pitch.

“We will do a pre-season camp – we will go somewhere but I think that would probably be more around teambuilding for a couple of days.

“But we have got some really hard work to do from a rugby point of view.

“People have families, children and wives and it’s not about going on a jolly. First and foremost we have some work to do.”

Warriors were embroiled in a relegation battle with Bristol when Gold pitched up at Sixways.

But the former South Africa assistant boss guided Worcester to safety and an expected 11th placed finish.

Worcester finished 10th in Dean Ryan’s final season in charge and Gold is determined to steer the club away from another campaign of struggle.

“There has to be reasons why this club lingers in the bottom three or four of the Premiership every season and we want to rectify that,” said Gold.

“I am not saying there is a magic wand.

"But there is enough in this group of players that if we work hard and smart, understand how we want to play and then put time and energy into it, we can get some decent rewards. Pre-season will be about cracking on and working hard.”