HE'S here, he's there Duncan Hughes seems to play just about everywhere.

Since returning to Worcester after spells with Llanelli and Newport during his university days he was a regular outside centre and linked up with his former King's School team mate Rich Tomlinson.

But at the start of this season he was asked to play at full-back and quickly settled into his new position helping Worcester race to the top of Premiership Two.

"Which position I favour is a tough one because I enjoy both," said the 27-year-old.

"At full-back you have more freedom and more responsibility but it's hard to compare with being a centre because they are very different roles."

But the versatility of Hughes does not stop there, not by any means.

Not surprisingly he has also played at inside centre but when Niall Malone was injured at Moseley last season Cusworth turned to Hughes to fill the pivotal role of stand-off.

"I played at 10 in South Wales for Newport for a season and again it's a different role," he added.

"You have more responsibility still, organising the pattern of play for both forwards and backs but I also enjoy that role.

"As long as I get on the park it doesn't matter to me."

At Henley this season when both Bruce Fenley and Ben Harvey were injured Hughes then turned his hand to scrum-half but it is not something he wants to do on a regular basis.

"Tony Yapp was going to go there, it was more a matter of whoever was closest at the time," he added.

"It's the team that matters most but the last time I played scrum-half aged 11 I dislocated both thumbs so I don't want to do that again. It's an asset being able to pay all over the pitch but it can also be detrimental.

"You always get into the squad or onto a touring party but you have find which position you want to be selected in first.

"The most important thing is just to play, anything else is a bonus," says Hughes

Versatility seems to be the key so the $1,000 dollar question has to be will he make the ultimate switch and convert into a forward?

His answer is short and simple . . . "NO."

Thursday, December 9, 1999.