Tevita Taumoepeau

Powerhouse prop Tevita Taumoepeau has committed his future to Worcester Warriors by signing a new one-year deal at Sixways Stadium.

Former Tongan international Taumoepeau, a cult hero with fans at Warriors, has become a rock in the Worcester scrum since joining the club in the summer of 2005 from French outfit Bourgoin.

The powerful front row made his debut in Worcester colours against former club Northampton Saints in the Powergen Cup in 2005 and has since gone on to make 121 appearance for Warriors, scoring one try in the league in 2006/07.

Taumoepeau has become a key figure in the Sixways dressing room and that was underlined when he was named Players’ Player of the Year in 2007/08.

“We have received some good news in the shape of Tevita Taumoepeau re-signing for the Warriors on a one-year deal,” said Ruddock.

“Dave, as he is affectionately known by fans and the players, is a hugely popular character who is respected throughout the Guinness Premiership as a formidable scrummager.

“Tevita is passionate about the Warriors and about staying at the club in order to see us improve our fortunes and grow as a team.

“He constantly strives to produce top class performances whenever he is selected and remains a key part of the squad and a huge favourite with our supporters.”

Taumoepeau, who has also previously played for Chiefs and the Blues, said: “I’m really happy at Warriors and have enjoyed my five years at the club.

“It’s great for me to sign a new contract and now I want to play as much as I can to help Worcester move up the league table.”

The 25-year-old has previously played at Bath Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Cornish Pirates, Newbury and Harlequins.

A hugely gifted Sevens performer, Cracknell earned rave reviews just last week as he scored two tries as England were narrowly beaten in the IRB Dubai Sevens, where he played alongside new Worcester team-mate Jake Abbott.

Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock said he was delighted to have secured the former England U21 ace.

“Chris has signed a contract that will allow him to be part of our squad and feature for us until the end of this season,” said Ruddock.

“I have taken these steps to cover the injury to Netani Talei, who unfortunately will be out until towards the end of the season after shoulder reconstruction.

“It was important that we reinforced this area and I’m particularly pleased to have signed a player of the quality of Chris Cracknell.

“He is a very well respected English qualified back row forward of immense potential. He has learnt his trade playing for teams like Exeter Chiefs and Cornish Pirates and, more recently, he was at Bath until Luke Watson arrived.

“Chris has also featured heavily for England Sevens and is quite obviously a very talented prospect. We look forward to seeing him the Warriors colours before too long.”

Ex-Great Britain rugby league star McGinty has signed a contract that will now keep him at Warriors until at least 2012.

Glasgow-born McGinty is a former Wigan rugby league star who represented Great Britain four times, won two Challenge Cups, two Regal Trophies, Premiership and league championships as well as two World Club Championships.

He has enjoyed spells as assistant coach at Wigan and Huddersfield Giants, head coach for Scotland rugby league team and also in rugby union at Sale.

McGinty joined Warriors when the club was elevated to the Guinness Premiership and Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock is delighted that he has now agreed to continue his dedicated service to the Sixways club.

“It really is great news that Billy has decided to extend his stay at Warriors and we are all delighted that he wants to continue to work with the team,” said Ruddock.

“Billy is hugely respected by all at the Warriors and his excellent work with our defence has made us a much tougher team to break down than in previous years. Billy’s has also been working hard on our backline in order for us to be an even greater threat with ball in hand.

“He is a talented coach, a very conscientious and hard working professional. I’m over the moon that he is able to continue all his excellent work with us.”

McGinty’s outstanding work on the defensive systems at Warriors has seen the team not concede a try in the almost four hours of Guinness Premiership rugby.

“I’m really pleased to have agreed the new contract as I’ve really enjoyed my time with Warriors,” said McGinty.

“I’ve seen the club really evolve over the last few years and there is no doubt in my mind that Warriors now has the right blend in the squad, with so many young players coming through the ranks, to be a success and move forward.

“It’s also a pleasure to be a part of such a professional, meticulous and thorough coaching staff. We have a fantastic organisation in place, headed up by Mike Ruddock, and the introduction of Tony Windo and Matt Powell to the backroom team has only strengthened that.

“The players are a great team of professionals to work with, who make my job enjoyable, and we are all pulling together to achieve the ambitions and targets of our club.”

Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock has selected the same starting line-up that drew 12-12 on home soil with Bath Rugby just seven days earlier as he looks for Warriors to secure a third home win of the campaign.

Fortey is named among the replacements and if he plays a part in the encounter will hit the magical 200 game mark in the English top-flight and move to fifth in the all-time league standings for games played.

“Chris is about to hit the 200 Club in the Guinness Premiership and this is yet another example of the durability, professionalism and skill of this Warrior over an extended period,” said Ruddock.

The only change to the 23-man squad comes on the bench where back row James Collins replaces Jake Abbott, currently away on England Sevens duty in Dubai.

Ahead of the game, Ruddock has admitted ‘it doesn’t get much bigger than this’ as his team face the undefeated league leaders.

However, he insists the excitement in the Sixways squad could not be any greater as Warriors prepare to challenge that proud record.

“It would have been good to get four points last week and we felt on balance we just deserved to edge it against Bath. Ultimately it’s gone now, it’s our fault we didn’t nail it down,” he said.

“Now we have got to learn from that and face a really big challenge against Saracens.

“They are undefeated and very difficult to break down. They are not only top of the league but they have also beaten the world champions, South Africa, so it doesn’t get much bigger than this.

“But it’s a game we are all quite excited about and can’t wait for the game to come around.”

Ruddock admits Saracens have fast become the experts of putting pressure on teams to make mistakes and fully expects his side to face a big examination under the Sixways floodlights.

“They are the masters of putting the ball in the corners and squeezing you until you give away points or field position. It will be a tough day for our back three, they will see plenty of the ball,” he said.

“But I’m encouraging my backs to run the ball, especially off first phase because that is the time when most of the forwards are in one huddle, be it a scrum or lineout.

“The only person that will be missing for us is Jake Abbott who is away with England Sevens, which is great news for us and great news for him,” added Ruddock.

“He is another one of our Academy prospects that has achieved international honours. It’s fantastic news so close to Alex Grove, who is set for his third cap for Scotland against Argentina this weekend.”

Tickets remain on sale for the Guinness Premiership clash with Saracens at Sixways Stadium. Call the Warriors Box Office on 01905 454183 or visit the online Tickets section at www.warriors.co.uk

Warriors vs Saracens

• 15 Chris Latham
• 14 Marcel Garvey
• 13 Dale Rasmussen
• 12 Sam Tuitupou
• 11 Miles Benjamin
• 10 Willie Walker
• 9 Ryan Powell
• 1 Callum Black
• 2 Aleki Lutui
• 3 Tevita Taumoepeau
• 4 Greg Rawlinson
• 5 Craig Gillies
• 6 Tom Wood
• 7 Pat Sanderson (c)
• 8 Kai Horstmann

Replacements

• 16 Adam Black
• 17 Chris Fortey
• 18 Olivier Sourgens
• 19 Graham Kitchener
• 20 James Collins
• 21 Jonny Arr
• 22 Calum MacRae
• 23 Rico Gear

Wing wonder Benjamin, who has a stunning strike rate of 24 tries in 60 games for Warriors, has put pen to paper on a deal that will keep him at the club until at least 2012.

The Solihull speedster, a product of the Warriors Academy, burst onto the first team picture during the 2007/08 season and quickly established himself as one of the deadliest and brightest young English stars in the game.

The England Under 20 international scored a try on his first senior start against London Irish in the EDF Energy Cup and his first Guinness Premiership try came against Newcastle Falcons in January 2008.

Benjamin, who during the summer of 2008 was part of the IRB Junior World Championships with England, finished his first full season as the club’s leading try-scorer with 15 tries in 27 games and fourth in the Guinness Premiership charts.

The 21-year-old’s incredible progress was underlined at the end of the 2007/08 season when he jointly picked up the Young Player of the Year prize at the club’s end of season awards.

Benjamin continued to impress everyone at Warriors last season with his attitude and determination as he battled back from a broken leg in the European Challenge Cup clash with Bourgoin.

The wing scored a memorable and courageous effort against the French side when he returned to the Stade Pierre Rajon in the European semi-final later in the same campaign.

This year Benjamin again leads the scoring charts at Warriors, with five tries in 11 games, and Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock has praised the wing for the manner in which he has developed his game in recent years and become an integral part of the Sixways side.

“Following hot on the heels of Matt Mullan signing a new deal, we’re very pleased to announce that Miles Benjamin has agreed a contract extension with the Warriors,” said Ruddock.

“Miles is hot property at the moment and has attracted a lot of interest elsewhere. He is playing some outstanding rugby at the current time and at just 21-years-old he will only get better and better.

“We’re delighted that Miles has chosen to stay at the club rather than take up some tempting offers elsewhere. Like us, he believes the Warriors will continue to make progress and he very much wants to be a part of that progression.

“Miles is a fine young man with a big future ahead of him. It shouldn’t be long before we see him playing for England Saxons and hopefully England.”

Benjamin said: “I’m really pleased to have sorted out my future at Warriors.

“I can now continue to be part of the development of a club that I think can become a leading side in both the Guinness Premiership and Europe.

“The club has shown a lot of ambition and I want to be a part of helping achieve the vision. I truly see Worcester Warriors as my club, after coming through the ranks and becoming part of the culture here.

“I’m playing alongside players that I’ve got to know very well and I’m in an environment where I feel comfortable and can develop my game further. We’re all pulling towards the same goal and I’m looking forward to a really successful spell with Warriors.”

Tony Windo

Worcester Warriors have today announced that Scrum & Forwards Coach Tony Windo has agreed a new contract at Sixways Stadium.

Former prop legend Windo has put pen to paper on a new three-year deal, with his current contract due to expire at the end of this season, to remain a key part of the backroom team until at least 2013.

Windo joined the coaching set-up at Warriors in a full-time role in 2008 after calling time on a hugely successful playing career that saw him play over 400 first team games for home-town club Gloucester and Worcester.

As Scrum & Forwards Coach, Windo continues to make a massive contribution to the Warriors squad as he has passed on his vast knowledge and experience.

Windo has also been hugely influential in the development of a number of young home-grown front row stars such as Matt Mullan, now part of the England Saxons set-up, Callum Black, Jack Gilding and Jordan Page.

Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock said: “Part of developing the ‘Worcester Way’ at the Warriors is through the promotion of younger players from the Academy, people like Miles Benjamin, Matt Mullan and Tom Wood who are all now regular fixtures in the first team.

“We also want to promote great servants to the club from playing positions to coaching positions and Tony Windo represents everything that is good about Worcester Warriors.

“He’s been a fantastic player for the club, very reliable and dependable. Now he is a first class coach.

“I’m delighted he agreed to extend his contract as he has made great strides as a coach and I know that the work he has done with Matt Mullan, for example, has been hugely appreciated and has been a key factor in Matt’s development.”

Tony Windo said: “I always found it a great honour to play for Warriors, I thoroughly enjoyed my ten years as a player and now, as a member of the coaching team, I remain determined to give something back to a club that has already given so much to me.

“As a player my target was to get the club into the Guinness Premiership, not only have we achieved that aim, we have become an established member of the English top-flight.

“My challenge as a coach is to now see the club reach the potential it richly deserves and to win some silverware and compete at the highest level and get into Europe.

“I’m delighted to have signed the new contract and my aim now is to try and develop a ruthless set of forwards at the Warriors that will help us achieve our aims.

“It’s great news for the club that Matt Mullan has also signed a new deal and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Matt and the rest of the many talented forwards we have at the club to try and help them improve and reach our full potential.”

Mullan, named in the England Saxons EPS squad in July, was due to be out of contract at the end of the season, but has now put pen to paper early to commit his future to the Warriors until at least 2012.

The highly-rated 22-year-old’s prized signature underlines the ambition for success shared by both the player and club.

Bromsgrove School-educated Mullan, who had been attracting the attention of a host of top clubs, is among a rare breed of front row players who can figure at loose-head prop or hooker and his contribution and development has now been rewarded with a new contract by Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock.

A product of the Warriors Academy, Mullan first came to prominence in 2007/08 with 25 appearances for Warriors in all competitions, followed by 24 matches in 2008/09. His senior debut had previously come in December 2005 against Newport Gwent Dragons in the Powergen Cup.

Mullan’s Guinness Premiership debut arrived against London Irish in December 2007 and his two tries in 38 appearances in the top-flight competition were against London Wasps in April 2008 and Leicester Tigers the following September.

The talented prop has regularly led the Guinness Premiership statistics for tackles made and yards covered by a prop and his impressive pace for a front row forward was shown in devastating fashion last season when he produced a memorable try-saving tackle against James Hook in the EDF Energy Cup.

Mullan’s outstanding development, work rate and ball carrying skills, alongside his excellent scrummaging ability, have been acknowledged by awards in successive seasons at Sixways. He jointly collected the Young Player of the Year prize for 2007/08 and then took the Most Improved Player at the end of last season.

The high esteem in which Warriors hold Mullan was replicated by his second call to the England Saxons’ squad last July. He had been called-up for training in January, but missed the match against Portugal through a rearranged Guinness Premiership game, and was later denied a debut against Ireland A at Donnybrook when the match was cancelled because of frost.

Mullan has earned impressive reviews from a host of former England players and pundits again this season and was widely tipped to make his full England debut for Martin Johnson’s men in the autumn internationals until a hamstring injury ruled him out until Christmas.

“We are absolutely delighted to announce that Matt has signed a two-year contract extension to stay at the Warriors,” said Director of Rugby Ruddock.

“Matt has become an integral part of developing the ‘Worcester Way’ at the club and, not only has he become a first team fixture, he is a superb role model and leader.

“His unfortunate hamstring injury has probably delayed his international progress in the short term.

“However, I have no doubt at all that over the medium to long term Matt will go on to achieve a number of international caps and quite possibly could even become a Warriors and England captain of the future.”

Matt Mullan said: “I’m really pleased to have signed this contract and look forward to a very exciting and successful future at Warriors.

“The club shares my ambition for the future and I’m excited by the plans that have been outlined by Mike Ruddock and his backroom team to take the Warriors forward in the both domestic and European competitions.

“I feel I have grown alongside the club, as both a person and a professional player, and now I have agreed this deal I can continue my development under the guidance of the coaching team, including Tony Windo who has played a key role in my recent success.

“I plan to play a big part in making sure Warriors climb the Guinness Premiership table and get to a position where we I feel we deserve and belong to be, one that reflects both the quality and ambition in our squad.”

Horstmann, who has been out of action since mid-September, returns to the pack for his fourth league appearance of the campaign.

Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock makes a total of 13 changes to the line-up that faced Scarlets in the LV= Cup last weekend as he recalls those who were rested for the trip to Wales.

Samoan centre Dale Rasmussen will make his first league start of the season while Chris Latham, Sam Tuitupou and Miles Benjamin return in the backs.

Prop Tevita Taumoepeau is declared fit to take his spot in the pack after recovering from a back injury.

“We’re looking forward to the game,” said Ruddock. “We rested up a few guys for this fixture and we expect them to go in with plenty of energy and plenty of edge.

“It was in our best interests to freshen players up, use the six-day turnaround to properly prepare a team without the distraction of injuries.

“We want to go into Friday confident and fully firing. That has what has happened this week, preparations have been good and Pat Sanderson has told me this is the most fresh he has felt for quite a while.

“That is good to hear and now we must try and translate that onto the park to get a positive result.”

Ruddock believes the battle of the breakdown will, once again, prove crucial to the outcome of the game this week.

“I am a big fan of Bath because they play some top rugby,” he said.

“They probably won’t want a set piece game with us, I think they will want to play with width and tempo, play an off loading game. It will be a tough task to bottle them up and keep them confined.

“The breakdown will once again be very important. They want quick ball so we have got to try and turn them over and force some mistakes in deep areas.

“We want to play some open and attractive rugby and test them, look for the space rather than the man.

“But when they have the ball we are aware of their pace and ability to move the ball quickly through hands, we need to try and pressure them and tackle effectively.”

Tickets remain on sale for the Guinness Premiership clash with Bath Rugby at Sixways Stadium. Call the Warriors Box Office on 01905 454183 or visit the online Tickets section at www.warriors.co.uk

Warriors vs Bath Rugby

• 15 Chris Latham
• 14 Marcel Garvey
• 13 Dale Rasmussen
• 12 Sam Tuitupou
• 11 Miles Benjamin
• 10 Willie Walker
• 9 Ryan Powell
• 1 Callum Black
• 2 Aleki Lutui
• 3 Tevita Taumoepeau
• 4 Greg Rawlinson
• 5 Craig Gillies
• 6 Tom Wood
• 7 Pat Sanderson (c)
• 8 Kai Horstmann

Replacements

• 16 Adam Black
• 17 Chris Fortey
• 18 Olivier Sourgens
• 19 Graham Kitchener
• 20 Jake Abbott
• 21 Jonny Arr
• 22 Calum MacRae
• 23 Rico Gear

Speedster Garvey is back in the starting line-up for the first time since injuring his hand against Montpellier in early October.

New Zealand ace Rico Gear moves to outside centre to join forces with Sam Tuitupou, with Alex Grove not considered for selection after an intensive three-day training camp with Scotland this week.

Full back Chris Latham returns to the side after being ruled out for the league game in Newcastle last week with illness.

Three changes in the pack hands recalls for back row Netani Talei, before he links up with Fiji for international action, lock Will Bowley and prop Jack Gilding.

Academy prop Michael Hill and talented young scrum half Ollie Frost are two new faces on the replacements bench for Mike Ruddock’s men.

Tickets remain on sale for the cup clash. For more details call 01905 454183 or visit the online Tickets section at www.warriors.co.uk

Debenture and Season Ticket holders are reminded that their tickets are valid for this fixture. All fans are invited to watch the England versus Australia match in bars around the stadium after the cup game.

Warriors vs Newcastle Falcons

• 15 Chris Latham
• 14 Marcel Garvey
• 13 Rico Gear
• 12 Sam Tuitupou
• 11 Miles Benjamin
• 10 Willie Walker
• 9 Ryan Powell
• 1 Callum Black
• 2 Aleki Lutui
• 3 Jack Gilding
• 4 Greg Rawlinson
• 5 Will Bowley
• 6 Tom Wood
• 7 Pat Sanderson (c)
• 8 Netani Talei

Replacements

• 16 Michael Hill
• 17 Chris Fortey
• 18 Adam Black
• 19 Craig Gillies
• 20 Jake Abbott
• 21 Ollie Frost
• 22 George Crook
• 23 Calum MacRae