WORCESTER Warriors hooker Gavin Hickie admitted the opportunity to join Leicester was "too good to turn down" after signing a two-year contract with the Welford Road club.

The Irishman will move across the Midlands in the summer but admits it will be hard to leave Sixways behind.

"I'm very sad to be leaving Worcester," he said. "I didn't know anybody when I went there and I've fallen in love with the place.

"That made it a tough decision, but you can't refuse when Leicester come calling.

"Playing for the Tigers will present a lot more opportunities in big games next season."

Hickie arrived at Warriors from Celtic League side Leinster as cover when Andre Van Niekerk dislocated his shoulder in the autumn.

In the six months since, he has mainly been deployed as an understudy to Chris Fortey.

Co-incidentally, the 25-year-old's only Premiership start was at Welford Road at the start of February, where he turned in an impressive display.

"I'm thrilled to get this chance," he said. "Leicester is a massive, massive club and its record speaks for itself. It's a big club with an amazing history.

"The opportunity to be part of the set-up at Leicester was too good to turn down."

Hickie joins a big Irish contingent at Leicester, including one of his closest friends from back home, flanker Shane Jennings.

With Van Niekerk heading back to his native South Africa in the summer, Worcester now need new blood to bolster their front row for next season.

Meanwhile, Warriors' skipper Pat Sanderson has declared himself available for Sunday's Premiership trip to Saracens after he proved his fitness in Monday night's 48-10 'A' team victory over Leeds.

The flanker, who bagged a pair of tries against the Yorkshire side, suffered no problems with the back injury that has kept him out for the last seven weeks.

And he thinks the enforced break from rugby may have done him some good.

"I'm just excited to be back playing," he said. "I feel really good and it was nice to get a couple of dots.

"It's amazing what a lay-off does for you. It really rejuvenates you."

Van Niekerk was also in action in the match at Sixways, which was Worcester's last 'A' fixture of the season.