The guys tried to run through some moves despite the gloom and arctic-like conditions © Getty Images

Well we got our first outdoor training session in today. Interesting to see how the team gel together on a pitch - even if it was a pitch covered in snow. Mallett is such an inspirational coach and its clear to see the respect the guys have for him. We trained for about an hour, with the backs and forwards split up. Obviously there was a snowball fight - well that was always going to happen with a couple of inches on the ground!

Spent a bit of time with the back room guys today. Rhys and Matt (in charge of Team Admin) are top boys and work incredibly hard at sorting everything out for the team, from match day logistics to training, to all the admin in the hotel. Wayne the pyhsio (who has a black belt in karate) has been in high demand this week. After a long season the guys are all in need of a bit of TLC and Wayne is the the man on call!! He's bought some new massage oil back from Australia that he says is the business. Hoping to get my session in later on....

Quiet evening planned for later - a lot of the guys are currently chilling around the hotel - a lot of video game and movie action!

- - - - - -

Twenty-five-year-old teacher Ben Fenner is spending this week as a Barbarian, staying with the star – studded team in their five-star central London hotel in the run up to the MasterCard Trophy game against South Africa at Twickenham on December 4. He’s writing an exclusive diary for ESPNscrum, detailing his week with the team as No.23...

To get all the behind-the-scenes action and news from Ben’s week with the Barbarians go to www.benumber23.com/priceless. MasterCard card holders can also get 20% off tickets to the big game at the site.