EUROPEAN champions Wasps will be the first visitors to Sixways in the Mike Ruddock era - a week after Worcester open their Guinness Premier-ship campaign away to Bath.

Warriors travel to the Rec reation Ground on September 15 before playing the London-ers in a match that will mark Ruddock's first at home since he was unveiled as the new director of rugby last month.

His side will not play any of their pre-season friendlies on their own ground because of development work being carried out on the Sixways site and four of their first six competitive games will be on the road.

The third and final game in September will see Warriors make the short trip along the M5 to Gloucester with the reverse fixture set to take place on March 29.

Ruddock knows the importance of a good start to the season and believes Worcester's victory over Bath towards the end of last season will stand his side in good stead when they take on the West Country outfit.

"We're already looking forward to the season kicking off and it's a very demanding and exciting fixture list for us," he said.

"Starting with Bath at the Rec is a great venue and we will be up against a very strong side, especially when they are at home.

"However, we take a lot of confidence from the victory achieved against Bath at Sixways last season.

"The first home clash is against London Wasps and that is a huge fixture for us first up.

"It is an opportunity for us to set the tone on home soil against the European champions. It's a tough start for us but also a very exciting one."

One player who is almost certain to be absent at the start of Worcester's domestic challenge is prop Chris Horsman, who has been named in Wales' World Cup training camp.

Horsman could be one of a whole posse of Sixways players involved in the tournament in France, while skipper Pat Sanderson will find out if he is on Brian Ashton's radar today when the England head coach names his training squad for a training camp in Portugal.

All of Worcester's international cast will be back by the time the club tackle their festive programme, which features trips to London Irish (December 22) and Newcastle Falcons (January 5) and a home clash with Harlequins (December 29).

Warriors finish their season at Sixways on May 10 with Newcastle Falcons providing the opposition.