IT was back to work with a bang for Worcester Rugby Club's stars yesterday as the pain game began.

Worcester's players were welcomed back after their five-week summer break with some exhausting 150-metre sprints and a weights session as the countdown to their all-important National One campaign began.

The beginning of the pre-season work, however, comes in the wake of a month's post-season training which was reinforced by an individual out-of-season programme for every Worcester player.

And for returning number eight Jim Jenner, first day back was a big success.

"It was good, hard stuff," he said.

"It was very different from last season not only because of the month's work put in after the season ended but also because of the individual programmes for each player.

"You can see that the squad begins this pre-season with a much better base in which to start from and I think the players are already a lot fitter this season.

"The sprints we did were all done at high pace with minimum rest so you can safely say that we hit the ground running. It was great to be back though and good to be able to focus on the season ahead rather than looking back on last year.

"Judging by the new players and the returning ones from last season, there is a real determination at the club which you can feel from day one."