THE hard work starts here for York City Knights, according to new player-boss Chris Thorman.

Today is the first day of pre-season training at Huntington Stadium and Thorman is itching to get started.

A packed opening session will include a two-kilometre time trial on the track, plus body fat percentage and weight tests, followed by a meal with all the players’ families.

The squad will also attend a fundraising race afternoon in Bar 13 from noon, while also posing for a revealing calendar in aid of the Knights Foundation.

Thorman said: “It’s a really exciting time. This is my first opportunity to speak to the players collectively and lay out exactly what we’ve got planned.

“I’m pleased with the signings we have made. It was important we got more experience and we can now couple that with the enthusiasm of the younger players. We are in a really good place at the moment.”

As well as using the facilities at Huntington Stadium, tomorrow will see the Knights undertake the first of a series of gym sessions at Leeds Rhinos’ Kirkstall training base.

Thorman added: “The gym tests will show who has been doing the programmes we set for them in the off-season.”

This afternoon’s race event is being held in aid of the family of player Jordan Rice, after his father, Frank, died while on holiday in the Dominican Republic.

• Dringhouses-based Pat Smith, the Sheffield Eagles hooker cum half-back, and brother of York City Knights’ Ed Smith, is in the Ireland squad for the historic first-ever rugby league game at Limerick’s Thomond Park.

Ireland play France in the European Cup today, with full-back Sean Carmody, who studied at the University of York and who was a Knights reserve this year, also in the 20-man party.