WORCESTER Rugby Club were on the verge of a massive transfer coup last night as they put the finishing touches to a move for Orrell's Drew Hickey.

The Australian number eight was at Sixways yesterday for talks about a move to Worcester following Orrell's inability to keep hold of their star player.

Orrell believed that a clause in Hickey's two-year contract only gave him scope to talk to Southern Hemisphere or Premiership clubs about a move.

That clause, however, has been exposed by Worcester as being far from watertight.

The Edge Hall Road club are livid at the thought of the 25-year-old moving to their biggest promotion rivals following fly half Phil Jones' recent defection to Rotherham.

Full back Scott Barrow is also understood to be considering his options but the Hickey move would prove to be the biggest blow and a massive fillip for Worcester.

Hickey, who has played Super 12 rugby with New South Wales Waratahs, proved himself to be one of the class acts of National One last season and, despite close ties with coach Ross Reynolds from their years together at Sydney University, Worcester's financial muscle seems to have been the telling factor.

"Orrell are furious," said an Edge Hall Road insider last night.

"They thought there was no chance of this happening and, coming so soon after Phil Jones' departure, it's fair to say there is a lot of anger around the club.

"This guy is a terrific player, arguably the best number eight Orrell have had in the last 25 years so they would be devastated to lose him, particularly to their biggest promotion rivals."

"We've held talks with Drew," confirmed Worcester's director of rugby John Brain this morning. "We're happy with the way they've progressed."

Worcester have announced their retained list for next season.

Retained: Tony Windo, Neil Lyman, Adrian Olver, Chris Hall, Craig Gillies, Dan Zaltzman, Mark Gabey, Chris Evans, Neil Mason, Richard Bates, Gavin Pfister, Werner Swanepoel, James Brown, Jon Higgins, David Officer, Gary Trueman, Ben Hinshelwood, Chris Garrard, Nnamdi Ezulike and Duncan Roke.