BOURNEMOUTH head coach Will Croker is happy to see his side testing themselves in physical challenges – even if that means getting involved himself.

The club’s director of rugby revealed the Chapel Gate outfit had been setting each other workouts via their WhatsApp group and posting the results.

Without a game since their shock 47-24 loss at Lydney last month, Lions are eager to keep themselves ticking over away from training.

Croker told the Daily Echo: “By setting these challenges it helps keep things fresh and motivates them to get to the gym to do it. It’s a case of buying into the team ethos.

“They have all taken part and even I have joined in and wanted to post my results to show I am in it with them as well.

“The first one was horrible in that you had to do 10 burpees, 10 press-ups and 10 squat jumps, five times, as quickly as you could.

“The last one was a rowing challenge which Luca Firetto set. It was a minute on then a minute off for five minutes – then you had to record how far you had got in the time.

“Luca did the rowing one because when he was having to do burpees, for such a big fella to get down and up again can take forever! He went for rowing because he could use his extra weight.

“There will be one a week now until the end of the season. I think Wyn Roberts is planning a sprinting one for next week. Luca will probably hate that!

“I did my rowing one on Saturday after an hour of racquetball and I was a bit disappointed with my distance. I want to do it again when I’m feeling a bit fresher – I did beat Sam Hardcastle but he is old so I should beat him!”

Lions are second in South West Premier and aim to remain there to secure a play-off spot.

They make the trip to play on the artificial surface at bottom club Hornets on Saturday. And the Bournemouth boss insists his side will not take their opposition lightly.

“We will be playing a team who are fighting for their lives,” he added.

“I guarantee they will have been ringing around the bigger clubs which are local to them to see if they can pick up a couple of players on loan for the rest of the season.

“Taunton is not too far away from them and they have a habit of trying to recruit from the area. We don’t know what we are going to face, we beat them at home and their 4G pitch actually suits us.

“There won’t be anyone going there with any kind of complacency.”

Lions have the chance to steal a march on those in the play-off shake-up, with fellow promotion chasers Maidenhead set to host Newton Abbot.