WORCESTER Warriors have promoted yet another academy prospect to the senior squad.

Lock James Scott joins fellow academy members Nick David, Gareth Simpson, Alex Hearle and Tom Dodd in signing a senior contract for the 2020/21 season.

He said: "It’s a big step up in your career. Perhaps people outside the club don’t realise how big a thing it is.

"It means moving into the senior changing room, so you’ve got to find a good spot. But the transition is minimised by the fact that from the moment you join the Academy, you’re involved fully in sessions and meetings.

"So you soon get used to training and playing alongside Premiership players week in week out.”

"There are a number of us stepping up from the Academy. I remember playing against a lot of the boys at school level, before linking up for the Under-18s League.

"Then I lived together with all of them for two years in the Academy house, so being able to move up with them as a group is great."

Scott, a product of two strong rugby nurseries in Bishop of Hereford Bluecoat School and Malvern College, joined the Warriors Academy system at Under-15s level and the Senior Academy in 2017.

He has represented England from Under-16s to Under-20s and has gained valuable senior experience in the Championship with Hartpury over the last two seasons on a dual registration.

Scott increases the number of homegrown players in Warriors’ senior squad joining other Academy graduates including Ted Hill, Ollie Lawrence, Will Butler, Joe Morris, Justin Clegg, Jamie Shillcock and Andrew Kitchener.

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons believes that Scott has the potential to become one of the Premiership’s top lineout forwards.

He said: "Scottie now joins our other young homegrown locks, Kitch and Cleggy in the senior ranks.

"Like the other two, he has represented England at Under-20s level and is a terrific prospect, who, already, at this young age, has shown that he has the ability to become one of the top lineout performers in the Gallagher Premiership,” Solomons said.

"Scottie is a great young Worcester lad, who, I believe, will add huge value to the team in the years to come. I have enjoyed working with him and look forward to continuing to do so."