VERSATILE back Ben Howard has come in from the cold — quite literally — to be Worcester Warriors’ young player of the year.

Howard, who can play at full-back or on the wing, is a worthy winner of Warriors Rugby Supporters Club’s annual accolade.

The 22-year-old played 19 times during the regular season, scoring seven tries, and has benefitted from the club’s use of cryotherapy treatment chambers.

Cryotherapy chambers were used by the Welsh rugby team in the run-up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Players are subjected to temperatures of -166°F (-100 °C) in the whole-body cryotherapy chambers to provide them with recovery from training sessions or injuries.

“I don’t know much about the scientific benefits of the treatment but we use two chambers and it’s -160 in there and that’s very cold air,” said Howard.

“We have been going into the cham - bers for one minute in the morning and two minutes in the afternoon.

“It’s supposed to be similar to an ice-bath but a bit better.

"It’s good for recovery and we have been using the treatment over the course of the year.

“We have used the chambers mainly before big games.

“When the mobile unit first arrived at the club I don’t think some of the lads enjoyed it too much.

“But I think it makes you feel better and helps you sleep at night.

“The backroom staff at Worcester Warriors are very good at finding out ways of improving things off the field so that we are better prepared for the challenges on it.”

Howard burst on to the scene dur - ing the 2012-13 season and made 16 first-team appearances for Worcester while still part of the club’s academy set-up.

The back made his Aviva Premiership debut against Leicester Tigers in September 2012 before marking his first start with two tries against Bizkaia Gernika RT in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Howard’s impressive form led to an England under 20s call-up and he was a key part of the side who claimed the Six Nations and Junior World Championship titles in 2013.

“Last year wasn’t a great season for me personally but the year before was good,” said Howard.

“It’s been great to play as much as I have done this season because you need to play to improve.

“Playing games and backing up performances have been important this term.

“When you make mistakes, you get a chance to play the week after rather than having to wait two or three months for your next chance.

“I feel confident and part of the team and I am confident in my own ability to play at this level.”

Howard’s major disappointment this season was when Saracens Storm won the Aviva A-League final against Worcester Cavaliers at Sixways in January.

“The Sarries game was a bad day so it was nice to get out in the British and Irish Cup final against Doncaster Knights to make things happen,” he said.

“You can’t shy away in games. I think it’s better to go out and, perhaps, make a mistake doing some - thing rather than not doing anything due to the fear factor.”

The Bradford-born player was delighted to pick up the supporters club’s young player accolade.

He added: “It was a great honour, especially considering we had 24 guys eligible for the award, including the likes of Max Stelling and Andy Symons, so it was a great honour to be voted for that by the fans.

“I noticed none of our players had been shortlisted for the national Championship player of the year, which was a bit of a surprise.

“Perhaps we rotated our players a bit more than some of the other clubs in the division.

“Guys like Sam Betty and Max Stelling may have expected to have been included.”