Wanderer’s F.C. Case Study

Wanderers Football Club is a senior rugby union club based in Dublin, Ireland, playing in the All-Ireland League. It is one of the oldest Rugby Clubs in Ireland and was founded in 1870. They are based on Lansdowne Road, a fitting home. Their club house is then on Merrion Road. They have a rich history and culture within the club, with rugby at the centre.

Project Overview

Client: Wanderers F.C.
Location: Merrion Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Industry: Sports Club.
Square Footage: 1444 sq ft.

Goals and Objectives

Goals:

Provide state-of-the-art fitness/strength and conditioning facilities for the members of Wanderers F.C.
Improve team performance throughout the club.
Promote health and wellness within the club and community.

Objectives:

Ensure the gym space is appropriate and provides a team environment.
Ensure the strongest equipment was provided to withstand the weights that come with the strength of the sport.
Provide a range of equipment to ensure the full scope of exercises needed to perform at their best.
Supply equipment that aligned with the club colours.

Planning and Design

Objective:

The initial consultation aimed to understand the specific needs and goals of the rugby team regarding the new strength-focused gym. It involved gathering detailed information about the team's current training regimen, desired outcomes, and any unique requirements or constraints.

Key Discussions:

Understanding Team Needs and Goals:
The coaches and strength and conditioning specialists outlined the physical demands of rugby, emphasizing the need for equipment and space conducive to building strength, power, and endurance.

Discussions included specific fitness goals, such as improving tackling strength, sprinting speed, and injury prevention strategies.

Current Training Facilities and Gaps:
The team provided a tour of their existing facilities, highlighting limitations such as outdated equipment, inadequate space, and the lack of specialized training areas.

This review helped identify gaps that the new gym installation needed to address, ensuring the facility would meet current and future training demands.

Design Preferences and Specifications:

The rugby team expressed preferences for certain types of equipment, such as squat racks, benches, plate loaded equipment, a dual pulley system, and a large free weight section. While still ensuring space was available. We achieved this by offering a bespoke six bay rig. The rig would be in the center leaving plenty of space for the rest of the equipment.

3D Floor Plan

The project began with an initial consultation to understand the client’s vision and specific needs.

After assessing the space, we proposed a layout that optimised the available area. The design included Exigo equipment. We prioritised equipment that was optimal for improving sports performance, was durable, and required minimal maintenance, understanding the heavy usage typical in a sports club.

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Installation Process

Preparation and Planning

Site Preparation: The initial phase involved preparing the existing space to accommodate the new gym installation. This included clearing the area, addressing any structural concerns, and ensuring that the space met safety and compliance standards

Logistics Coordination: Detailed planning ensured that all necessary equipment and materials were ordered, delivered, and ready for installation. This phase involved coordinating with suppliers and managing the logistics to minimize disruptions to the rugby team's schedule.

Step-by-Step Installation

This gym installation was a two day process. Day one consisted of flooring installation. Followed by day two which consisted of the building and installing of the Exigo strength range, such as the six bay rig, dumbbell rack and dual pulley system.

Specialized Flooring: The installation began with laying down specialized gym flooring designed to withstand heavy weights and provide shock absorption. This flooring was essential for creating a safe and durable training environment, especially for high-impact activities like weight lifting.

Durable Strength Equipment: Durability is a must for strength training, especially for the caliber of strength training that a rugby team go through and the consistency of which they do it. For this we worked in tandem with our partners Exigo to use the best of the best strength equipment that is sure to last.

More Pictures

Equipment Assembly and Placement

Weightlifting and Strength Equipment: Key equipment such as the six bay rig, benches, and dual pulley system were assembled and securely anchored. The placement was strategically planned to maximize space efficiency and allow for seamless movement between stations.

Storage Solutions: The installation also included creating ample storage for weights, bars, and other accessories, ensuring that the gym remained organised and clutter-free.

Final Walkthrough and Handover

The project concluded with a final walkthrough with the rugby team’s coaches and managers to ensure that all aspects of the installation met their expectations. Feedback was gathered, and any minor adjustments were made to optimize the setup.

This comprehensive installation process ensured that the new gym was fully functional, safe, and ready to support the rugby team's training needs, paving the way for enhanced athletic performance and success.

Equipment and Features:
● Gym Flooring: This necessary part of every gym is often overlooked but is the most essential for the longevity of your gym. Our team makes it a simple and easy process.
● Strength Training: From rigs, to dumbbells we cover the full range of strength equipment with the help of our numerous partnerships. In this instance Wanderer’s F.C. opted for Exigo strength equipment for the most part, paired with some of our own Hit Fitness equipment.
● Special Features: Wanderer’s F.C. needed to train as a team. Therefore it was decided to install a six Bay Free Standing Rig with storage so this could be achieved.

Results and Impact

Immediate Outcomes:

● Enhanced Training Capabilities: The newly installed strength-focused gym allowed the
rugby team to immediately access state-of-the-art equipment designed to improve power, agility, and endurance. This setup facilitated more effective and efficient training sessions, tailored specifically to the physical demands of rugby.
● Increased Team Morale: The team's excitement and motivation surged with the introduction of the new facilities, boosting morale and fostering a stronger sense of unity and commitment among the players.

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