With the picturesque shores of Jervis Bay as a backdrop, some of the nation’s most elite rugby players were put through their paces in a lead up to the season opener on February 19.

It is the third consecutive season the Brumbies have made their pre-season pilgrimage to the local naval base, where coaching staff and players are given a final chance to polish their plays and sharpen their skills, before the season gets under way with a home game against New Zealand based Chiefs.

Head coach Andy Friend and the Brumbies arrived at Jervis Bay on Sunday evening ahead of being put through their paces by the Navy base’s physical training instructors on Monday.

Taking to Creswell quarter deck on Tuesday morning under the intensive eye of Canberra’s team coaches, the Brumbies found no time for respite; management pushing their side to the limits, taking advantage of the unique coastal humidity.

Wallabies Ben Alexander, Salesi Ma’afu, Stephen Moore, Huia Edmonds, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Mark Chisholm, Matt Giteau and Pat McCabe were all back in training after the end of season Wallaby European tour in October and November, keen for the Super 15 season ahead.

Wallaby’s captain Rocky Elsom was unable to test his still tender hamstring, reduced to a spectator of the team’s activities from the sidelines.

While having the national captain out for the camp may seem a hindrance to the team dynamic, Brumbies’ first year forwards coach and former Wallaby Justin Harrison saw the injury time as an opportunity for ACT management to work closer with Elsom in his role as a team leader.

“This is the last chance we have to train before the start of the 2011 season, it’s important to stay focused on the job ahead but this is also a good time for the players to bond in a fresh environment,” Harrison said.

Harrison believes the Brumbies, with all their Wallabies back, will be among the front runners in 2011.

“The pre-season camps are important, and this has been a great chance for us to prepare for the season ahead and we want to start the season on the right foot against the Chiefs.

“With all our Wallabies back I think we will be strong competition.”

Accompanied by three time World Cup referee Stuart Dickinson, considered Aust-ralia’s top whistle blower, the Brumbies have the advantage of a lawman among the troops to settle any discipline needs and give the squad a refresher on the running rules of the game.

Dickinson is the only referee to have supervised three World Cup championships, the Sydney based educator was selected as one of the eight-man core panel of refs for the 2010 Super 14 series, being named in the top three referees of the entire South African New Zealand and Australian Rugby (SANZAR) competition for the year.

The Brumbies have undergone a host of training sessions from team runs through to strength and conditioning, while the bases PTIs also put the squad through its paces.

While in the area a number of Brumbies players took part in a training session with local indigenous kids at Wreck Bay on Wednesday, as well as enjoying some down time at the end of week, staff and players able to explore the beautiful Jervis Bay region.

The camp wrapped up late yesterday, with the players then heading off to Bowral to participate in a golf day today.

The CA Technologies Brumbies will further gear up for the expanded 2011 Super Rugby season with matches in Darwin and Canberra.

They will play matches against the Queensland Reds at Darwin’s Austar Park on Friday, February 4 before completing their preparations with a regular pre-season fixture against the Hurricanes at Viking Park on Thursday, February 10.