Munster are facing into one of their biggest seasons in recent memory. If their preseason preparations are anything to go by, they are going about things the right way.
The western province are into Week 7 of their preseason and finally get a hit-out against Zebre on August 19.
The players have already undertaken the notorious skin-fold (body fat percentage) test and have attempted to surpass gym and fitness markers put down on Week One. The past two weeks has seen the players introduced to the ball more and more and get down to business on the pitch.
Munster’s performance nutritionist, Catherine Norton is tasked with ensuring the players are eating the right stuff and the right time and getting properly fuelled up for the preseason slog. In the province’s latest behind-the-scenes video, Norton details the daily diet keeping the players going:
“They would have an oat and fruit or dairy-based shake at home. That would be porridge, fruit and yoghurt with maybe some protein in it. [They have that] before they leave the house. They come in and have their weights session.
“After that, they would have some breakfast here, on campus, that would be three or four poached eggs, lean bacon medallions, beans, slice of brown toast… no butter.
“They have another strength session and then have lunch. We are catering four times a week for the boys here, which we haven’t done in previous years. We are using suppliers that are local here to Limerick… It was one of the comments we had from players last year. In order to get more volume in, it’s important to have variety.”
Top of the class for looking after their food intake are young Munster players Dave Johnston and Billy Holland, who is supposedly never far away from a nutrition-packed tupperware container.
