• FIRE
• POLICE
• MILITARY

• HOME
• ABOUT US
• MANUFACTURING
• MATERIALS
• TESTS
• BLOG
• TESTIMONIALS
• NEWS
• CONTACT US
• TERMS & CONDITIONS

LATEST NEWS

Bath Rubgy Training Day at Bristol Airport

Posted: 1st September 2010

Leading west country Aviva Premiership side Bath Rugby spent the day at Bristol Airport recently for a team building and leadership training day, hosted by the airport’s fire training team, and sponsored by leading PPE suppliers including Southcombe Brothers who supplied the 36 man squad with firefighter gloves for the occasion.

Bath Rugby’s players were put through their paces on the airport fire-ground, taking part in training drills designed for specialist aviation firefighters. Fully kitted out with operational PPE, their challenges included crawling through a confined space while wearing breathing apparatus, climbing ladders while carrying a casualty, and tackling real flames on the Airport’s 767 simulator.

Players including captain of England Rugby’s summer tour, Lewis Moody, British and Irish Lion, Simon Taylor, and Bath captain, Luke Watson, took part in the training day, with the squad dividing into three groups to add an element of competition!

Justin Lane, Fire and Safety Coordinator at Bristol Airport, said:  “We know fire-fighters can face hazardous challenges as individuals, and sometimes have to put their lives in the hands of their colleagues. This means teamwork and trust form a key part in their training and development. Sportsmen also need to know they can rely on their team mates under pressure, so it was fascinating to see the Bath players respond to the testing scenarios we placed them in through the course of the day.”

Steve Meehan, Head Coach of Bath Rugby said: “The fire-fighters here at the airport really have to rely on each other and work closely as a team, as do the players when they are out on the field. This was  a great team building exercise for the players. You can never underestimate the value that a change of scenery and experience can bring. We will all knew a little more about each other by the end of the exercise."

Sky News were on hand throughout the day to capture the teams at work which was later broadcast with extracts also being shown on the BBC’s local Points West news.