WE spoke with Gloucester Rugby Union star James Hook on Wales’ World Cup training camp, while talking about his side's chances in the tournament.

Hi James. I wanted to touch on how things are going in Switzerland. How is the training camp going there?

Quite tough to say the least. It’s physically and mentally taxing, but the squad should ultimately benefit from such a rigorous routine.

I’ve heard about players being pitted one on one in strength tests. Has that been helpful to developing everyone’s competitive edge?

It’s been very difficult for everyone, but we’re doing our best to stake a claim for selection. There’s been wrestling, tug-of-war battles, and at that altitude, it was a lot tougher than we’d expected.

Are the World Cup preparations going well for the international side?

It’s everyone’s first camp, so we’re all in the same boat. It’s the first time the squad has gone together, but all the boys are putting in the effort. As you can imagine, everyone wants to impress to make the cut.

How do you feel about your own chances of making the squad?

I’m hoping for the best, training as hard as I can to make an impression on the coaches.

Obviously a very tough group for both England and Wales, but what are your expectations?

We know it’s going to be very tough. You cant write Fiji off, so each group game will bring its own challenge. It will be difficult, but I’m sure the boys will be ready.

With regards to the training camps, Qatar seems like an odd choice, so what was the idea behind travelling there?

It’s for heat training. We have to try and cope with the sweltering temperatures so we can practice at a good level there, as it’s surprisingly hot out in Switzerland. Hopefully, we will be able to adapt better, so everyone’s looking forward to it.

Looking to Gloucester, there was obviously some silverware in Humphreys’ first year in charge. How do you think the season went?

It was great to get a trophy. We all want to win silverware. The first half of the season was tough as expected, with there being somewhat of a new team and staff. Things improved a lot over the course of the campaign with some new signings, and now the boys are chomping at the bit to get going. Everyone is more familiar with themselves this time round, so hopefully that will go in our favour. We’re still developing as a team, and it will take a bit of time, but we’re optimistic we can enjoy a successful term.

Looking forward to next season, what hopes do you hold for the club?

We are targeting a top-six finish or better. We’ll certainly give it our best shot. It’s imperative that we start well, or at least a lot better than last season.