JOHN Brain today began the task of moulding a promotion winning side as Worcester Rugby Club's players checked in for pre-season training.

Worcester's director of rug-by has brought in 14 new faces and he was delighted to have all of his squad together for the first time at Sixways.

But Brain underlined that the first day back at training would be no cake-walk.

"They will have quite a stiff session today," he said. "We could spend time talking about what we want to do or we can just get down to work.

"Pre-season is hard work and there is no getting around it so the boys will have a tough session in the field with weights afterwards."

Mark Gabey was the only absent new signing because he is undergoing a clean-out operation on his knee today.

Tony Windo, after returning home from captaining an English Counties XV on a tour to Chile, may also miss today to catch up on some rest following the tour.

For Brain, though, it was the day which he had been waiting for -- a chance to work with the players he and assistant coach Andy Keast could now call their team.

"This is our squad now," Brain added. "We know the players we retained -- their strong and weak points and we also know the players we have brought to the club.

"Last season, I didn't have much say on the players who were here because I'd only just arrived but now we're very happy with the squad. These are exciting times for Worcester Rugby Club."