WORCESTER have lost out in the race to sign Laurent Emmanuelli.

The French prop, who looked set to join the Sixways club after a meeting with coaches John Brain and Andy Keast, has instead decided to stay put at AS Montferrand.

The Warriors looked in pole position to snap up the loosehead before he was offered a new three-year deal to stay in France.

"Montferrand are well known for their financial strength and money talked in this instance," said Brain, Worcester's director of rugby.

"We held talks with Laurent before the Northampton game but he went back to France. The Montferrand president then took him into his office and doubled his money, telling him he had to sign there and then.

"It sums up how difficult it is to compete against that financial strength and, before the Northampton game, there was still a possibility that we could go down. It's difficult when you are dealing with agents based in France."

Meanwhile, head coach Keast has praised Sixways-bound Andy Gomarsall after his Gloucester display against Newcastle in the Zurich wild-card play-off.

The scrum-half, who will move from Kingsholm to Worcester in the summer, came under fire from the Cherry and Whites' management and some supporters after contract negotiations broke down before his Sixways switch.

However, the England man looked sharp in the weekend clash and Keast believes his display is no accident.

"I would argue that he hasn't had a dip in form," said Keast. "He's come under fire because of those contract negotiations and then the move to Worcester, but he's been very professional.

"On the field, he's continued to give his all for Gloucester and you could see his delight when the final whistle was blown on Sunday."

n Worcester centre Ben Hinshelwood has been ruled out of Scotland's forthcoming matches against the Barbarians and Romania.

Hinshelwood, who has endured a frustrating first Premiership season, has been ordered to rest during the off-season because of his back problems. He has struggled with back spasms and doctors have told him that the only cure will be a summer of rest.