Officially opened on 22nd of April by sports broadcaster John Inverdale, the stunning new Strength & Performance Centre at Royal Wootton Bassett RFC now sets their facilities well above any other club playing at their level.
There are some gym installations which are pretty ‘cut-and-shut’. The client has a list of items, dimensions and goals which we follow to the letter. These gyms are sometimes complete in a few days (or even less). Job done. High-fives all round. Time for a cuppa.
Then, there are the real partnerships. The bold athletic organisations and clubs who go the extra mile to open their doors to us and create something truly special. These are the clients who’ve seen our work with organisations like England Rugby, Team GB and Newcastle United, and seek to create a unique training facility using our pooled years of experience. Royal Wootton Bassett RFC are one such organisation.
IT STARTED WITH A SINGLE EMAIL
Back in 2015 we were approached by Alan Low, Director of Rugby at RWBRFC, who discussed creating a new strength & conditioning facility for the club. This would be a training facility used by RWBRFC players of all ages and levels, providing strength & performance training facilities which far surpassed the standard then in place. For the ambitions of the gym installation, the size and standard of the area which was originally to be installed was simply too small and unfit for the large range of gym equipment. An entire new wing of the club was built, creating an impressive open space with high ceilings and modern lighting which would house all the gym equipment necessary for such a versatile training area.
THE GYM INSTALLATION
After 6 years of planning and preliminary building work, we set to work installing the gym itself in Autumn 2021. Hundreds of square meters of rubber flooring were laid, as well as a durable sled track customised with the club logo. A functional ‘contact area’ was created with firm crash pad walls and indoor turf for tackling and passing work.
Absolute Performance supplied a large range of cardio equipment including Concept 2 SkiErgs, Concept 2 Rowers and Wattbikes to add to the strength and conditioning arsenal. Many of the club’s previous items of gym equipment were refurbished, re-sprayed and branded for continued use. A huge range of accessories were supplied, including Apex Powerbags and custom branded Apex Stackable Soft Plyo Boxes to add to the list of functional gym equipment.
OLYMPIC LEVEL GYM EQUIPMENT
The real crowning glory of Royal Wootton Bassett’s new performance gym, though, is the world-class strength equipment which takes centre stage in the training area. After returning to the UK from the Tokyo Olympics, 5 of Team GB’s very own Legend Pro Series Power Racks (in Olympic colours) were lovingly installed. Complete with custom branded, oak layered lifting platforms and connected with overhead pull-up cage connectors, these stunning weight racks will serve the club for many years to come.
A bespoke training facility like this wouldn’t be complete without custom weight plates. Several tons of Lionfit rubber bumper plates were supplied from our partners at Werksan in Turkey, boldly printed with the club logo and taking pride of place alongside a full complement of pro-level Werksan Lionfit barbells.
Top all of that off with some slick branding and graphics and you’ve got yourself a rugby training facility which arguably out-strips any other club playing at RWBRFC’s level anywhere in the UK. A truly powerful rugby gym space which will robustly serve the club for years – possibly decades – and improve performance for generations of players.
INCREDIBLE FEEDBACK
Speaking with Alan Low, Director of Rugby at RWBRFC, we were thrilled to hear such great feedback on the work and our partnership with the club:
We first approached Absolute Performance back in 2015 with a vision to upgrade our existing gym facility at the club, the support and guidance AP have been able to offer us throughout the planning and design stage all the way through the process has been invaluable. Our goal was to create a bespoke high performance training space that would specifically work for rugby and allow us to host large squad sessions incorporating both S&C and skills work within the same space.
It’s been a pleasure to work with AP on this project the knowledge and attention to detail throughout the process has been incredible, we have been completely blown away with the quality of the finished product. The equipment and attention to detail within the space are excellent and as a local community club we are proud to now have one of the best rugby training facilities nationally available to our members which will have a huge impact for us both on and off the field for years to come.
– Alan Low, Director of Rugby, RWBRFC
LEAVING A LEGACY
As gym designers and installers, we have the fantastic privilege of working with some of the most driven and passionate organisations in the sporting community. Royal Wootton Bassett RFC goes one step further in creating a true sense of local community around its rugby club.
As the gym installers and partners to this superb training facility, we at Absolute Performance were lucky enough to be invited to take part in the 50th Anniversary celebrations which accompanied the grand opening of the new training centre. We had the privilege of speaking with club officials, players (old and new) and the many members of the local community which make the club what it is. One thing that can be said for certain is that this rugby club is very much at the heart of the local community, and we’re thrilled as always to be able to bring Absolute Performance to so many generations of players and spectators of the great game.
EVER ONWARD
As part of our ongoing partnership with RWBRFC, work is still ongoing in adding even more powerful and versatile gym equipment to this rugby training facility. Keep an eye on all our socials at @aperformance for the story, details and a full breakdown of our installation of this incredible gym project.
