THE stunning capture of Rico Gear brings to an end the first phase of Mike Ruddock's re-building work at Sixways.

Worcester's new director of rugby has no plans to add further players to his squad in the short-term following the signing of the New Zealander.

Gear will be one of six new players to arrive at the club next season but Ruddock's predecessor John Brain deserves much of the credit for bringing in at least two of those players - Sam Tuitu-pou and Shaun Ruwers.

In recent years, a number of new signings have had only peripheral roles in the side but the class of this latest batch suggests they will all become regular fixtures in the team.

Gear will probably be handed the number 14 shirt with Thinus Delport the favourite to be deployed on the other flank. Ruddock has other op-tions, particularly if he can rejuvenate the form of Marcel Garvey and Aisea Havili.

Should Shane Drahm get his wish and be restored to his favoured position of fly-half, Loki Crichton will most likely slot in at full-back.

Warriors have been crying out for a top-class number 12 ever since they arrived in the Guinness Premiership three years ago and the prospect of teaming up Tuitupou at inside-centre, with Dale Ras-mussen on his outside, should bring a new dimension to Worcester's backs division.

Ruddock is likely to be more circumspect when it comes to changing the forward pack.

All Blacks star Greg Rawlin-son will be a major boost to a second-row section that has lost Richard Blaze to Leicester and Tim Collier to injury - for the next six months.

Exactly where Fijian Netani Talei fits into the back row remains to be seen, but he will almost certainly have to displace either Drew Hickey or Kai Horstmann unless Pat Sanderson returns to the England set-up.

Ruwers should prove an able replacement for prop Chris Horsman, while the latter is on duty with Wales, and will help to beef up a front row which will have it's resources stretched at times.

Lee Fortey has retired be-cause of injury, while Tevita Taumoepeau and Aleki Lutui are both likely to be wanted by Tonga for the World Cup.

Ruddock will be hoping Dar-ren Morris starts the season as he finished the last one and that Tony Windo avoids the injuries which have dogged him for the last 12 months.