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Huw Bennett says Wales will leave no stone unturned as the national squad begin preparations for their summer tour with a training camp in North Wales.

The national side, shorn of their British Lions stars, will head to Colwyn Bay for a training camp before they jet off to face Tonga in Eden Park, Auckland on June 16 and the Samoa a week later in Apia.

Several of the Wales squad have yet to link up with Robin McBryde’s squad, with Scarlets, Exeter and Wasps players involved in club action this weekend.

And Wales’s strength and conditioning coach Bennett believes the week in Colwyn Bay, which culminates with a match against WRU National Cup winners RGC 1404 at Parc Eirias on Friday, June 2 (7pm kick off), is the perfect way to prepare for the summer tour.

“We needed a date when we knew everyone would be in, and the North Wales camp takes place a week before we go out on tour,” said the 51-times capped hooker.

“We’ve got a new group, so it’ll be a case of getting them together and starting the gelling process as quickly as possible.

“There will be a big rugby element to the trip, and it’s something we need to be conscious of: utilising every minute we have together as a squad on the pitch and off it.”

Newport Dragons, Ospreys and Cardiff Blues players have already arrived in the Wales squad, but after Scarlets’ incredible semi-final victory in the Guinness PRO12 against Leinster, Bennett and assistant S&C (strength and conditioning) coach Alex Lawson will have to wait a little longer to get their hands on the likes of Steff Evans and Samson Lee.

“We’ve been keeping in contact with the S&C departments at the regions and clubs, so we know where players are at physically,” Bennett added. “That means that when we do get to North Wales, we can hit the ground running and get started with a really good training camp.

“Ideally, everyone will be involved in training on the first day on Monday, but the reality is that won’t happen, so it’s a case of managing some individuals initially.”

Having prior knowledge of training facilities is invaluable from an S&C perspective, and Bennett has the advantage of knowing what to expect from both North Wales and Auckland, where Wales will be based ahead of their match against Tonga.

And he has been hugely impressed with the set up in North Wales.

“The training facilities are excellent at Parc Eirias, as is the ground itself,” said Bennett. “And the fact that the game sold out almost instantly makes it a great finish to what will be an intense week of training. We’ll get some really good benefits from it.

“Our training base in New Zealand is where we stayed last year on tour, so we know what we’ll be getting there, which helps. We’ve got less time to get over the jetlag on this occasion, but it’s something we’ll be working on within our programme in order to get the players as ready as they can be when it comes to that big match at Eden Park.”

The large number of young players coming on tour will naturally want to impress the coaches, and Bennett is aware of the new faces trying too hard.

“We want to give them the best environment, but at the same time you don’t want the youngsters coming in and doing absolutely everything at the cost of not giving themselves a fair crack at making the matchday squad because they’re exhausted,” he added.

“We want to use their enthusiasm to reinforce us as the season nears its conclusion. Players don’t need any extra motivation to play international rugby, but it is utilising what’s readily available, and that will be a lot of enthusiastic players being given a first-time opportunity.

“North Wales will be where we create our team environment and define the mindset that we take on tour.”