TWO Tongan World cup stars have joined Worcester's promotion race in Allied Dunbar Premiership Two.

Full-back Sateki Tuipulotu and scrum-half Sililo Martens impressed Les Cusworth during their World Cup games against New Zealand, Italy and England.

They have both signed Sixways contracts but cannot play until they have secured work permits.

Twenty-eight-year-old Tuipulotu shot to fame by landing an injury time drop goal from the half-way line to beat Italy at Welford Road, Leicester.

He has played in the last two World Cups and holds the country's point scoring record.

Tuipulotu first came to England in 1996 to join Leeds Rhino and played in nine Super League games before switching to rugby union.

The full-back became a leading points scorer for the Tykes and has played against Worcester in both Jewson One and the Allied Dunbar Premiership.

He was left out of contract at Leeds after turning down a part-time contract.

Martens, aged 22, has been in the Tongan national side since 1998 at both the 15 and seven-man games and has played his rugby for Auckland in New Zealand.

Worcester's Les Cusworth has snapped them up after Tonga exited the World Cup last Friday following a 101-10 defeat against England at Twickenham.

"Both Sateki and Sililo are exciting, explosive players and we're pleased they are soon to be part of our squad at Sixways," he said.

Neither player will be involved in Saturday's trip to bottom club West Hartlepool but last week's new signing Marco Caputo has been named in a 22-man squad.

The hooker was not involved in Saturday's 84-15 thrashing of Wakefield as his registration had not been cleared by Twickenham. But the Australian international, who aims to play for Italy in this season's Six Nations, comes into the squad.

The remainder of the Worcester squad is unchanged for Saturday's match which will now kick-off at 1pm due to the Rugby World Cup.

Worcester from: Baxter, Caputo, Carter, Cockle, Connolly, Denhardt, Fenley, Jenner, Harvey, Higgins, Hughes, Linnett, Lyman, Merlin, Myler, Raymond, Richards, Sims, Walker, Windo, Woof, Yapp.