NEW left-winger Cooper Vuna says the roar of the Sixways crowd can lift his own game.
The 27-year-old has arrived at the club with the sole aim of helping Warriors secure an immediate return to the Aviva Premiership.
Vuna has international experience after winning two rugby union caps for Australia and playing for Tonga in rugby league.
He said: “I feed off the fans — most of my career I have been out on the wing and once the fans are into it, they get me into it. The more they cheer, the more I give back to them.”
He added: “I was brought up with a rugby league background.
“Worcester is a town like Newcastle in New Zealand where I played most of my rugby league.
“Newcastle is a one-town team and it’s the same here with all the fans behind Worcester and the players are behind the fans.
“The fans will give a lot and we have to take that on board and make sure we finish it off for them.”
Vuna believes Warriors ‘are going places’ and says the main focus is returning to the top table of English rugby.
“I have come here with just one goal — to add into this team.
“I am not come here to relax — I am here to try to add to things and make an impact.
“I have watched some clips on the Warriors website and I have seen good finishes by Tom Biggs and some of other lads.”
Vuna has just completed a stint with Japanese side Toshiba Brave Lupus where his playing opportunities were limited due to a restriction on overseas players.
“It was hard — only two foreigners are allowed on the field at one time in Japan and having the likes of Richard Kahui and Francois Steyn in front of me was major competition,” he said.
“I was excited when I got a chance to speak to my manager about coming to Worcester and, in my last few weeks in Japan, I was focussed on getting here and getting the job done.
“I came to Worcester with the Melbourne Rebels a couple of years ago but I didn’t get a chance to play against them. I wanted to get my hands dirty.”
The winger was planning to return to Australia for a holiday when the opportunity at Worcester arose.
“I am pretty lucky to have got a taste of international rugby around the world and I definitely wanted to come and try out the UK at some point.
“When an opportunity comes along you just take it and that’s what I am doing.
“Now I am looking forward to getting out there and playing with the boys.”
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