MIKE Ruddock has been handed the task of taking Worcester Warriors to the very top of the European club game after he was unveiled as director of rugby.

The 47-year-old, who guided Wales to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2005, has been given a three-year contract at Sixways following the shock departure of John Brain.

Ruddock has been out of the professional game since his tenure as Wales head coach came to an abrupt end in February 2006 and he can't wait to get cracking again.

"It is good to be back," he said. "This is a very ambitious club. I am under no illusions that there are expectations and it is up to me and my coaching team and the players to try and deliver those expectations.

"There are some great plans and a great vision for the future here at the club and I want to be part of it. I want to be on that journey and I am looking forward to trying to encourage the players to play quality, winning rugby."

Those plans include a major expansion of Sixways and chairman Cecil Duckworth knows the quality of the stadium must be reflected on the pitch.

"If you are in the Premiership, you want to win the league and you want to win Europe," he said. "We are not expecting him to do either next year but we want to make progress in that direction.

"If we are planning to take the ground capacity up to 15,000, we have to fill the stadium and that means we have to play better and we also must get into Europe. Any club that is going to go forward must get into Europe and the Heineken Cup. We will than be able to compete at the highest level and that means performance on the pitch."

Those expectations appear not to weigh heavily on Ruddock, who he led Swansea to their inaugural Welsh title in his first year as coach and followed up with a league and cup double three years later.

Ruddock has also coached Irish province Leinster and the Ireland A' side as well as assisting Brian Ashton as the Emerald Isle's national coach.

"Anything is possible," said Ruddock. "Swansea finished eighth in the first season of Welsh Leagues and we tried to target a top four and we ended up winning the championship.

"When I went to Wales, we tried to win our home games and we ended up winning a Grand Slam."