AN artificial pitch makes a “huge difference” to training methods, according to Worcester Warriors’ new head of strength and conditioning Paddy Anson.

Anson arrived at Warriors earlier this month and has vowed to bring in a level of intensity to training “that the players need”.

Anson believes training should be “shorter” and “more intense” with the players building up a “resilience” and “robustness” in the sessions.

“I am bringing in a level of intensity to the training that the players need,” said Anson, who has replaced Chris Hart in the role at Warriors.

“The Premiership is the most physical of all the leagues bar the Top 14 (in France) but they get the opportunity to rest players once every two weeks while we are full on week in week out.

“The players have to match the intensity levels in training in order to put them out on a match-day.

“We’ve got an artificial pitch which the players have to get used to and we need to build up a resilience and robustness around our training.

“I believe that by making the sessions shorter but more intense on a faster pitch we are going to be able to adapt in the next couple of months.”

Warriors ripped up their grass pitch last summer to install a new, artificial surface.

The club have been hampered by injuries to key players this season and Anson says an artificial pitch impacts on the way a club trains.

“It (an artificial pitch) does make a huge difference to the way you have to train,” said Anson, who spent a season at Sixways in 2005/06.

“You can’t afford to be spending an-hour-and-a-half, two hours on that sort of pitch because it takes it out of your tendons, muscles, ligaments and lower back.

“You have to make sure the sessions are monitored and are short and sharp with accuracy and intent around training of the highest level because then the players will take that out on a match-day.

“In terms of artificial and grass pitches, experts reckon it’s a 50/50 split in terms of injury rates so there’s not necessarily any higher instances of injuries on one surface or the other.

“However, I believe if your training strategy is wrong and the duration is longer, your chances of injury are higher on that sort of (artificial) pitch.

“We are striving to achieve success by making sure the sessions mirror match intensity and match duration.”

Anson left Gloucester last summer and had previously overseen the Exeter Chiefs’ strength and conditioning department for six seasons.

He has spent the last six months working with GB Hockey and the EIS at the National High Performance Centre, Bisham Abbey.

A former Royal Marine, Anson completed an exercise and sports science degree before combining a strength and conditioning role at Hartpury College with a masters in coaching science.

“It was a real surprise (to get this opportunity),” he admitted.

“I was ready to do the Full Tokyo Cycle with GB Hockey and an international elite level performance was a great opportunity to have.

“But when I got the call from Carl (Hogg) and Jim (O’Toole) for the position here I snapped up the chance because rugby is where my biggest skillset is and I believe I can make a difference.”

Anson says it’s vital that Warriors spend the majority of their training time on the artificial surface.

“With the surface we have, we have to use it as an advantage,” he said.

“There are nine other teams in the Premiership with a Desso or artificial pitch so it would be ludicrous for us to be spend 90 per cent of the time training on grass.

“We need to train on this surface more often.

“In pre-season we will spend a lot of time on grass to allow us to get more volume into the training load without the risk of injury.

“But in season, I think 80 to 90 per cent of our time should be training on that sort of (artificial) surface.”