WORCESTER Warriors have retained the services of “outstanding young lock” Justin Clegg on a two-year contract extension.

Clegg, 22, joined the academy for the 2016-17 season and was promoted to the senior squad at Sixways two years later.

The former Bromsgrove School student missed most of last season with a stress fracture of the back but has made impressive progress this season and made six senior appearances to date, including his first start in the European Challenge Cup victory over Enisei-STM.

“It was a very easy decision to make,” Clegg said.

“It’s a club I have been at for five years now and, growing up in the area, it’s a club I have always supported.

“It’s a club that I want to succeed and to help as much as I possibly can.

“I am very grateful for the patience of all the coaches and support staff and for the support they gave me when I was injured last season.

“It’s great to have been able to get back out on the pitch again and to start to play again.”

Clegg has followed two more academy graduates, Ted Hill and Andrew Kitchener, in signing new deals.

“It’s good to see my good mates and boys that I have grown up with signing contract extensions,” Clegg said.

“It’s great that everyone wants to stay and it will be a better place for that.”

Clegg represented England at under 17 and 18 levels and was part of the under 20s side that won the Six Nations in 2017 and reached the final of the World Rugby Junior Championship.

“Cleggy is an outstanding young lock,” said director of rugby Alan Solomons.

“He has the size and physique to make it at top level.

“Over and above this, he is a highly intelligent footballer with good skills. He has made huge progress this season and it is great news that he, like all our other young players, has decided that his future lies here at Sixways. “He is a first-class bloke and a really good team man, who, I believe, will play an important role in the future of the Warriors. I look forward to working with him as we seek to advance the club.”

Clegg is the 14th current Warriors player to commit himself to a new deal in recent weeks following Hill, Kitchener, Niall Annett, Ashley Beck, Anton Bresler, Cornell du Preez, Sam Lewis, Isaac Miller, Richard Palframan, Nick Schonert, Gareth Simpson, Francois Venter and Ethan Waller.