WORCESTER Warriors head coach Rory Duncan hailed the club’s academy system after his team of rookies stunned the star-studded Parisians in the European Challenge Cup at the Stade Jean Bouin last night.

Stade, second in France’s Top 14, had seven internationals in their starting line-up and five more on the bench, while Warriors had five current academy players Ollie Lawrence, Ted Hill, Andrew Kitchener, Kai Owen and Tom Dodd in their matchday squad.

With every player who started against Bristol last week rested it looked like it could have been a mismatch but the boys, ably supported by the experience of Jono Lance, Matt Cox and the returning Wynand Oliver, did the work of men to record Warriors their first win in France in 10 years.

“It was a great opportunity for a number of players to show what they are capable of. They really wanted to go out and prove a point and they certainly did that,” Duncan said.

“I have always said that one of the many things that are healthy at Warriors is our academy structure. The youngsters that got their opportunity on Saturday put their hand up.”

Centre Lawrence deservedly took the man-of-the-match award for an outstanding performance that tormented the Stade defence.

Hill scored his fourth try of the season which secured the bonus point and then set up Jamie Shillcock within three minutes of him coming off the bench for his first start of the season.

South Africa centre Olivier returned to action after almost a year sidelined by hamstring problems but was pressed into action earlier than intended after Wales international Ashley Beck suffered a fractured leg in Worcester’s first attack after just three minutes.

“It wasn’t great to see Ashley taken off on a stretcher so early on,” Duncan said.

Beck’s injury was the only negative on an otherwise memorable night for Warriors who ran up their highest score on French soil in only their fourth win in France.

“Whether we come to France and play against a team like Stade our approach is exactly the same. We prep as hard as we possibly can,” Duncan said.

“The whole thing is we want to perform consistently week in, week out. This club has got so much potential and we want to make sure that potential is fulfilled.

“We work with quality players and have a quality coaching group and we will approach each game as we did this one.”

Two first-half tries from wing Tom Howe, after Cox had crossed for the opener, set Warriors on their way to victory and gave Duncan some healthy selection headaches ahead of the visit of Ospreys to Sixways on Saturday (3pm).

“We work on a rotational system. We have given players a rest. Players who are available for selection next week will be selected on merit,” he said.

“Obviously a number of guys had great performances and I’m sure we will see most of them on the pitch again on Saturday.”