JOHN Brain is banking on the Emerald Isle to unearth treasured team spirit at Worcester Rugby Club.

The new Sixways head coach has booked his first team squad into Dublin City University next month for vital team bonding ahead of their season in National One.

Worcester's 33-man squad depart for Ireland on August 7 for a five-day trip concentrating on rugby matters but with a social edge.

The squad will be based on campus before facing Irish side Clontarf on Saturday, August 11 for their opening pre-season fixture. Brain is expected to use the match to test out as many players as possible in what will be a critical time for the squad after a summer of upheaval at Sixways.

Chief executive Geoff Cooke brought in 17 new players, released and retained 16, while Brain was appointed along with coaches Steve Townend and Peter Finch.

With the big kick-off on September 1 looming, Brain is well aware the players must gel together in quick time.

"A big part of the trip is so the players can get to know one another," said Brain. "When you are introducing 17 players into a new environment it will always take time to build team spirit.

"It will be good to just get them away and make sure they spend as much time together as possible. The purpose of the trip is rugby-based and to play a pre-season friendly, but it is obviously important that the players get to know each other."

Worcester now have three friendlies pencilled in before the league campaign begins at home to Manchester.

Following their Irish trip, the squad return home for an August 18 match with Pontypool at Sixways. They then travel to Sale a week later in their final warm-up match.

"In the Clontarf game, we will be using more than the usual 22-man squad to get a better idea of the players.

"Three pre-season games though will be enough to get a picture of the players who will start the league campaign," he added.

Their preparation continued today with more rugby-based work than in their first week of training. After their opening 'test week' the squad will now get more time on the pitch following fitness coach Finch's assessment of the squad's physical data.

Brain said: "The players will have a full programme for the next five days where they will get through a lot of work, it is combined with fitness but we will play more rugby this week to get an idea of just where we are with them."