GWENT rugby coach Mike Ruddock believes his squad has stolen a march on the other new regions by beginning planning for next season so early.

Ruddock met up with his players last week for a two-day training camp and the former Ebbw Vale coach was delighted with the response from his players.

"The whole exercise was thoroughly worthwhile," admitted Ruddock.

"We worked on a few things such as the sort of game we wanted to play. We also worked on set-pieces.

"The players were all very involved in this and it was useful to have their input.

"It was nice to meet up with them and start the preparations for next season."

The Gwent squad have now got a month's break before they start their pre-season training but all players will be expected to keep up their fitness levels over the next few weeks.

"We gave them a 3000 metre test run and when they come back from their break they will have to improve on their time," said Ruddock.

"It's all down the new national strategy. We've got a slight advantage on the other regions because we are the only squad that has met up and got together.

"We've organised ourselves and that will save us at least a week when we meet back up. "As a result we can start to work on other things."

Ruddock was particularly impressed by one player at the training camp as well as being encouraged by the overall response of his squad.

"It was an excellent response from them and I have been encouraged by what I saw," said Ruddock.

"But Rhys Oakley (from Bristol) has impressed me hugely. His skills levels were brilliant and he recorded the best time in the 3k run.

"And he speaks volumes of how far behind we are compared to the Zurich Premiership. But singling him out would be unfair as all the players were excellent and the camp could not have gone better."

Although Ruddock is relatively pleased with his squad he still wants to add a few more players before the end of the season.

"I'll be meeting with the chief executive and trying to agree a budget that will allow me to get another two or three more players," he added.

"That would make the squad more balanced."