WARRIORS director of rugby John Brain has described Tony Windo as a "phenomenon" after the talismanic prop signed a deal that will keep him at Worcester beyond his 38th birthday.

The evergreen former Gloucester star has put pen to paper on a new one-year contract, while lock Phil Murphy has secured an agreement that keeps him at Sixways until the summer of 2008.

And Brain couldn't be happier to tie up deals for the two forwards.

"Tony Windo is a phenomenon," he said. "He just keeps going. He has been one of the outstanding loose-heads in the country.

"Tony is quite happy to keep going and he is a very, very important member of our squad and a guy we count on as a leader."

Windo, who turns 37 in April, has captained the team on nine occasions this season including the club's first-ever win against Leicester Tigers.

By comparison, Murphy is relatively youthful at 25. He arrived from Leeds Tykes in the summer of 2004 and, in the current campaign, has established himself as first choice alongside Craig Gillies in the Worcester second row.

The 6ft 7ins player has been one of the club's most consistent performers throughout the season and his signature will come as a big relief to the Warriors fans.

Brain said: "He has been an ever-present, taking over from Tim Collier. He's done a very good job for us and is developing very well.

"I think he is still relatively young and we are very pleased to have him for another two years."

There was more good news for Worcester this week after Thinus Delport had the brace taken off his knee and has been given the all-clear to do straight line running.

The South African wing damaged ligaments last month and Brain thinks he is two to three weeks away from returning to the team.

Fly-half James Brown is recovering well from a hamstring problem and is expected to be fit for the home match with Sale next Saturday.

Flanker Johnny Tuamoheloa returned to training this week after missing the win at Bristol with a sore shin. But wing Uche Oduoza, who has not played since injuring his quad in the warm-up against Amatori Catania last month, is expected to be out for another two weeks.