DEPARTING fly-half Sam Windsor will be going on a trip to Portugal with Worcester Warriors and could yet feature in the club’s promotion run-in.

But Warriors’ director of rugby Dean Ryan admits the Ulster-bound Windsor is not currently at the front of the pecking order for a first team spot.

Ryan said: “Sam is going to Portugal with the younger group and if he plays there, he certainly could be an option for the run-in.

“It would take some injuries to do that but it could be an option.”

Windsor, who linked up with Warriors in December, suffered a dislocated shoulder in scoring a try on his debut for the Cavaliers in an A-League match against Bristol.

The Australian three-quarter is leaving Worcester at the end of the season and Ryan believes the club paid the price for putting him in the shop window.

“Sam’s taking an opportunity in Ulster which I can understand,”said Ryan.

“I am disappointed because he’s somebody we wanted to maintain a relationship with.

“The way in which we managed him after a 10-minute trial I thought we would continue with.

“I don’t hold anything against Sam for taking an opportunity but we were under the impression that he was going forward with us.

“I understand what it’s like to be a player and you have make choices and you have to make those choices successfully.

“I looked to build something where we had a long-term relationship but he’s chosen to go somewhere else.

“All I am trying to do is create a pathway at Worcester but we weren’t successful in this particular situation.”

With Tiff Eden, Ryan Mills and Ryan Lamb at the club next season and Tom Heathcote soon to join from Edinburgh, Ryan is content with his fly-half options.

“Tiff has progressed at a rate, while we’ve got Heathcote coming in and we already know Millsy and Lamby so I am not panicking.

“Sometimes you run contingencies to see where they go and Sam was one who we thought was travelling with us.

“By putting Sam in the shop window to travel with us we probably put him into somewhere else.”