Although the 2011 ITM Cup is not long over, the 2012 Northland squad began pre-season training this week with ITM Cup coach Adriaan Ferris (pictured).
The squad, containing a mixture of contracted and non-contract players, joined in with the Northland Sevens squad and the Academy boys for fitness testing earlierthis week. The squad will concentrate on strength and conditioning until March, where they will begin more game specific training ahead of the start of the ITM Cup, the coach said.
Northland Rugby Union are currently in negotiations with most players, but Ferris said there would be no real surprises when the final squad is announced next year.
"We are just tying up a few loose ends ... we were very happy with the squad we had last year," he said.
He said the union was delighted to have recently resigned prop Scott Vessey for the 2012 ITM Cup campaign.
