WORCESTER Warriors’ players have been put through their paces after returning for pre-season training.

Summer signings David Denton (back row), Sam Olver (fly half), Ethan Waller (prop), Simon Kerrod (prop), Pierce Phillips (lock) and Tom Howe (wing) were all at Sixways.

Head of strength and conditioning Paddy Anson has put together a programme which will test out the players.

Gym sessions and a series of fitness tests were on the agenda on the opening day.

Warriors will have six weeks of intense training before their first pre-season match against Hartpury College at Sixways on Saturday, August 12 (4pm).

Director of rugby Gary Gold, who has just celebrated his 50th birthday, returns to the club this week after a break to see his family in South Africa.

Warriors will travel to Birmingham Moseley on Friday, August 18 (7.30pm) before finishing their pre-season programme by hosting Munster on Thursday, August 24 (7.30pm).

Last month, chairman Bill Bolsover said he thought Warriors’ squad could improve on last season’s second-from-bottom Aviva Premiership finish.