Worcester Warriors have learnt that not only will they be playing rugby out of the top flight next season but they will also be doing so without two of their former All Blacks.
The former All Black duo of Sammy Tuitupou and Rico Gear will be moving on from the Sixways club
"Pocket Rocket" centre Tuitupou (pictured) was offered a new contract at Sixways but took his time with resigning it and now that the club's Guinness Premiership relegation has been sealed he has decided to leave the club.
The former Blues midfielder in the Super 14 who scored 13 tries in 54 appearances has now been inked with a move to Welsh region the Ospreys.
Warriors general manager Charlie Little said: "Sammy had a contract offer with us which was beneficial on both sides - if we went down we would chat about it in that he could go elsewhere or we could terminate the deal.
"I think, subject to him passing a medical with another club, we wouldn't expect him to be with us next year," he told the Worcester News.
"He'll have to pass a stringent medical examination wherever he goes and I imagine he'll be undertaking that procedure and looking to move elsewhere.
"Again, with Rico, I would envisage him not being at Sixways next year."
Gear arrived with the reputation of being a prolific winger on the highest stage having scored 10 tries in his 18 caps for New Zealand but the reality is that he did not achieve lift up to his reputation with the club.
In 42 appearances he scored six Premiership tries - including just one league score in the last two seasons - but Little defended Gear by saying, "Rico came with a big reputation, there's no doubting that.
"Has he performed? I'm not one to just go with what he's done on the pitch."
"In terms of the leadership group, with which he's been heavily involved, he has helped bring on the likes of Chris Pennell, Marcel Garvey, Miles Benjamin, Alex Grove to some extent, Earl Collins and Mike Penn.
"If, in a couple of years time, we are looking at these guys helping the Warriors to qualify for the Heineken Cup, then you could say Rico has been a good investment."
Meanwhile, Chris Cracknell and James Collins of Worcester Warriors have been summoned to appear at an RFU disciplinary hearing on Tuesday, May 11 for conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game of rugby union.
Cracknell is charged with dragging a member of the public over the hoardings at the end of the Leeds Carnegie v Worcester Warriors match on April 25 in such a manner that he fell to the ground. Collins is charged with swearing at a member of the public.
The panel will meet in the offices of the Judge Advocate General, Royal Courts of Justice, London and comprise RFU Disciplinary Officer Jeff Blackett (chair), Jeremy Summers and Mike Cordell.
