ALEX Grove has spoken of his frustration at seeing Warriors’ top young talent opting to quit Sixways at the end of the season.

The long-serving centre has come through the ranks alongside the likes of Matt Mullan, Joe Carlisle and Matt Kvesic but they are just the latest three homegrown players to decide their careers will be better progressed away from Worcester.

Despite watching the current Sixways talent drain, the 25-year-old Scottish international, who is under contract for next term, insists he has no plans to follow suit.

“The situation is frustrating when we haven’t kept hold of the likes of Matt Mullan, Matt Kvesic and Joe — especially the young players,” said Grove.

“But, as players who are staying, we’re not frustrated with the guys who are leaving. You can’t argue with their decisions — they have their reasons.

“I don’t have any burning aspirations to necessarily play for another side. It’s not something I’d completely rule out, but you have to look at other players.

“At the moment, I’m happy at Worcester and I have another year left on my contract so I haven’t really thought beyond that. I’ll probably have to start thinking about it towards the end of this calendar year.”

Despite the comings and goings announced by clubs at this time of year, Grove has called upon the club to maintain their focus for the remaining three Aviva Premiership games of the season, starting with Sunday’s tough trip to leaders Saracens.

He added: “There are guys going off to other clubs and others who haven’t been re-signed, so it is important the squad as a whole stays focused on the next three games.

“As a result of professionalism, players do come and go every season and there are players leaving this year who will always hold Worcester close to their heart.

“Obviously, Matt Kvesic was brought through the ranks here and Worcester has been good to him — he’s been brilliant for Worcester too, probably our best player this season — but there are a lot of players who have come through the system and will always look back fondly on playing here.

“People like Miles (Benjamin) left last year and I’d played six years of rugby with him so, from my point of view, I’m losing good mates from the club, but you can’t really blame them for wanting a change.

“Their personal situation maybe dictates that or perhaps they have aspirations to further their careers and they might feel going to Leicester Tigers, Gloucester or Wasps is going to help, so you can’t argue with that.

“The number of us guys who came through the academy together is getting diluted each year — there’s just me, Chris Pennell, Jonny Arr and Jake Abbott left now.

“If you looked back at all the players to have come through the Worcester academy in the seven years I’ve been here, you could put together a strong Premiership one to 15.

“There are some people who have left here and had a year or two in the Championship before coming back as really good players.

“Charlie Hayter is an example as he’s had a great season and ended up signing for Wasps where he’s doing really well.”

 

@tomguestwn Remind the poster;• I went for 6 months not 12.• SRU paid my wages.• I resigned an extension prior to going.#FactsRight 😳

— Alex Grove (@AlexGrove) April 12, 2013