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Worcester sign 6'4, 110kg English-qualified Aussie backrow Lee-Warner
By Kim Ekin
Worcester Warriors confirmed the signing of utility forward Fergus Lee-Warner, their third signing for the 2022/23 season, on a three-year deal.
Lee-Warner, 28, can play both back row and lock and will arrive at Sixways from Perth-based Western Force at the end of the current Super Rugby Pacific season.
The versatile foward has also played for Western Force in Australia’s National Rugby Championship having previously represented the Greater Sydney Rams.
The 6ft 4ins, 110kg forward is English-qualified through a grandfather and communication with former Warrior Jono Lance helped convince him to upsticks to the UK.
“I am really excited about joining Warriors,” Lee-Warner said. “I have been playing Super Rugby here in Perth since 2020 when Force came back in.
“I have really enjoyed my time here with Force but I have always wanted to play in the Gallagher Premiership. I feel like it’s a really good competition and another step in my career that I want to take. It’s the chance for me to experience something different.
“Jono Lance is a mate and I spoke to him about coming to Worcester.
Warriors Director of Rugby Alan Solomons believes that the Australian has the skills and physical attributes to flourish in the Gallagher Premiership.
“Fergus is an experienced, physical, abrasive lock/six. His attributes are ideally suited to the Premiership and there is no doubt that he will make his mark here at Sixways,” Solomons said.
“Jono Lance and others who have coached him speak very highly of him as both a player and a person.
“He will clearly add great value to the Warriors and we all look forward to welcoming him here at Sixways.”
Warriors’ Lead Rugby Consultant Steve Diamond also welcomed the addition of Lee-Warner to next season’s squad.
“With his physical assets, Fergus should be a real asset and I’m looking forward to working with him when he arrives in the summer.
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The match experience still sucks at SR games, irrespective of the game being a little quicker. Rugby has to compete with so much in the modern world, if you’re going to get people to leave their houses and pay to watch a game in winter then the experience has to be worthwhile.
Go to commentsIt’s a good, timely wake up call for NZ Rugby (seem to be a few of them lately!) - sort out the bureaucratic nonsense at board level. We can’t expect to stay the number one option without keeping fans/players engaged. We’ve obviously been bleeding players to league for years but can’t let the floodgates open (although I think this headline is hyperbolic as it’s a result of a recent Warriors pathways system where they are tracking things more closely) Understand the need to focus boys on rugby if they’re at a proud rugby school too, don’t think it’s harsh at all re Barakat in Hamilton. Reward the committed players with squad positions. An elite 1st XV system in NZ has done more for league than they even realise, think it’s good to protect our game further.
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