WORCESTER Warriors chief Alan Solomons has warned his players to expect a “brutal” pre-season when they return from their summer holidays.

After a nine-month Aviva Premiership campaign Solomons has given his squad a five week break to rest their weary bodies.

But having finished just one place above the drop zone Warriors’ director of rugby insisted his men needed to be “conditioned physically and mentally” in preparation for next season.

Warriors won seven league games this term but suffered 15 defeats including a final-day 32-24 loss at Northampton Saints last Saturday.

Solomons is desperate to see a more consistent Worcester side in the 2018-19 campaign and believes a hard summer training block will make a difference.

“We have got to accept where we are (in the table) and wipe the slate clean before next season,” Solomons said.

“We have got a good squad and know the Premiership is a tough competition so we have got to fight every inch of the way.

“The players are off for about five-and-a-half weeks and then we are going to come back and work really hard.

“Pre-season needs to be brutal because we need to be conditioned physically and mentally to give us that consistency.”

Last year Gary Gold, who Solomons replaced as Warriors boss in late December, took the decision to give his charges a longer off-season as he felt they were “mentally knackered”.

Gold allowed them five weeks off before giving them an extra two-week break if they hit their targets in training.

Solomons said: “I have come in late in the day so I have not done any analysis of what happened in pre-season last year.

“I wasn’t here so I don’t know but what I do know is we need a very tough pre-season in order for us to prepare both physically and mentally for the challenges that lie ahead.

“I believe that’s the key for us to getting consistency in our performances.”

In the summer of 2016 Warriors went on a gruelling 12-day high-altitude training camp in the French Alps as part of their preparations.

Asked whether he had any trips planned, Solomons replied: “I think everyone has just got to have a break in the summer and then when we regroup all that information will come through.”

While most of Solomons’ players will be recuperating, others will be representing their country on summer tours.

And Warriors’ boss said it was “absolutely vital” they get time off before coming back to Sixways.

“I will make sure they will get a break when they finish,” Solomons said.

“I have already spoken to Joe Taufete’e as he is going to be off with America during June.

“I have spoken to the other lads, particularly Nick Schonert and Jack Singleton, if they do get an opportunity to play for England.

“I will make sure they get a proper break as it is a very physical game.

“You have got 30 players out there who are well-conditioned, big, strong, physical athletes and rugby is a collision sport.”