IT will come of some consolation to the Newport Gwent Dragons players that have left the contents of their guts on the challenging sand dunes of Merthyr Mawr that their teammates on Wales duty are also suffering.

It’s the time of year when rugby players are really made to sweat, when the cocktails consumed on sandy islands in the Mediterranean are worked off.

The Dragons have been spending their Fridays being put through their paces at the coastal village near Bridgend.

But a morning being beasted on the infamous ‘Big Dipper’ climb doesn’t seem so horrendous when compared to the stories of Wales’ training camp in Poland.

Warren Gatland’s squad jetted off yesterday for the first of two pre-World Cup trips to Spala.

The second will have a heavier emphasis on rugby but this one is about conditioning, conditioning, conditioning.

They will be training three or four times a day and enduring bouts of cryotherapy, where they are exposed to freezing temperatures in a chamber, so that they can continue to graft hard.

Former Lions star Matt Dawson, familiar with the camp from his Wasps days, said: "There is nothing to do there other than train and the food is schnitzel, potato, rice, schnitzel, potato, rice for breakfast and dinner."

Gatland promised his charges a shock, yet flanker Dan Lydiate insists it has already been pretty brutal as the 45 players attempt to secure a spot in the squad for New Zealand.

"It’s been tough but the boys have been enjoying it and there’s a lot of competition," said the 23-year-old. "The boys are really pushing themselves. It’s going to be hard in Spala but hopefully we will get the gains.

"Everyone is really pushing and fighting tooth and nail at it for those World Cup spots, that bodes well for Warren and his coaches for selection.

"Everyone has to push really hard and it’s going to come down to the last day before they make their decision for who is going to go on that plane.

"Ten boys in the 45-man squad play in the back row and they are all quality players.

"We’ve been training well together but you have find a little bit extra and dig a bit extra so that you stand out and get your name on the team sheet.

"The coaches are watching us every day and every session so there is no slacking in camp.

"You have to go flat out, they will notice if you don’t because everyone else is pushing so hard."

Lydiate has become a mainstay of the Wales back row and looks certain to wear the number six jersey with Sam Warburton donning seven in the World Cup opener against South Africa.

The flanker, however, is far too modest to suggest that it is only injury that will prevent him from heading Down Under.

"I don’t think anyone has cemented their place and a lot can happen between now and the selection," he said.

"There are three tough Tests and with rugby there are injuries and what not.

"It’s a massive opportunity for all 45 of us and players who have maybe been on the fringes before are really pushing for places now.

"It makes you train much harder because everyone wants a place. We are just going flat out.

"There is a good bunch of boys here and the banter does help along the way, it makes a big difference when the sessions are hard and you can drag each other through.

"This year we will probably be with Wales more than our regions.

"The boys are quite close and hopefully that camaraderie will take us a long way."