MIKE Ruddock has committed his future to Worcester Warriors.

The Sixways director of rugby has been widely linked with a return to the Wales head coach post following Gareth Jenkins' sacking.

But Ruddock insists he is committed to leading the Warriors into a new era.

He said: "I understand my name has been linked in some quarters with a return to Wales but I can reassure Worcester supporters that I re-main totally committed and dedicated to the club and building a bright future here at Sixways.

"I started a new challenge at Warriors when I signed a three-year deal in the summer and it is one I am enjoying greatly.

"My focus remains only on Warriors and guiding the club back to winning ways in the very near future."

Ruddock had a hugely successful 22-month stint in charge of the national side when he led the team to 15 victories in 22 games, culminating in the 2005 Grand Slam crown.

Jenkins was dismissed in the wake of Wales' 38-34 defeat to Fiji which heralded their World Cup exit and Ruddock's name is on the Welsh public's lips as the number one choice to take up the reins.

The Worcester chief added: "I saw just before our game at Gloucester that Wales had gone out of the World Cup after losing to Fiji so, as a Welshman, Saturday was a bad day all round for me.

"It will be tough down in Wales this week. When I was Wales coach, we only just beat Fiji, so I know how difficult a team they can be, but my concern at the moment is to get my team right.

"We were good in patches but not throughout the entire 80 minutes and our penalty count really hurt us."

Despite seeing his side claim a straight-forward victory over the Warriors at Kingsholm, Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan was impressed with what he saw from Ruddock's men.

He said: "I thought Worcester were very competitive - it took us 55 minutes to break them down and that came from one of their mistakes.

"It was a significanlty different Worcester side to what we have had approach us in the past and I'm sure they will go on to be very competitive.

"I think they have maintained the core things they do well, which is a good driving line-out and a good scrum.

"They have been given a little bit more freedom to be ambitious, but that takes time. It is not just words at the start of the season that make everyone play cohesively.

"I am delighted they are approaching the game in that way because they have some very good players.

"Without a doubt there is more to come from them."