LYMPSTONE'S Royal Marines put the London Welsh rugby team through their paces when the sqaud asked the troops to help with their training.

LYMPSTONE'S Royal Marines put the London Welsh rugby team through their paces when the sqaud asked the troops to help with their training.

The rugby team, known as the Dragons, was given an insight into training Royal Marine-style ahead of the new season.

The squad was put through a regime of arduous physical training and grueling team-based exercises, which included a vigorous warm-up before the timed team challenge of carrying items across the assault course.

Their final challenge, to test the mental and physical resolve of the squad, was a four-mile run around the assault course carrying a log.

Captain Erik Nielsen RM, who organised the event, said some of the team said it was the hardest challenge they had ever faced.

He said: "The aim was to really push the squad above and beyond their normal comfort zone both physically and mentally, assessing how they would cope during the last 10 minutes of a crunch match.