Worcester Warriors have signed experienced Russia international Valeriy Morozov, who will join the club from Bath Rugby for the 2022/23 season.

The loosehead prop will be reunited with Steve Diamond, who signed Morozov when he was director of rugby at Sale Sharks in 2019.

The mobile, ball-handling forward becomes Diamond’s sixth new signing ahead of succeeding Alan Solomons as Warriors’ director of rugby.

“I have known Valeriy from the time I had coaching Russia and he is an exceptional athlete,” said Diamond, currently Warriors’ lead rugby consultant.

“He is a very humble person with a fantastic work ethic and he will be a superb addition to our squad.”

Morozov, 27, has been capped 33 times by Russia since making his debut against Zimbabwe in Hong Kong 2017.

His most recent international appearance came last month when Russia hosted Romania in the opening fixture of the Rugby Europe Championship.

Morozov, whose wife is Ukrainian, played volleyball as a youngster before converting to rugby with Zelenograd, his hometown club.

He spent three seasons with Enisei-STM, Russia’s leading club, before getting his first taste of English rugby when Diamond signed him for Sale.

There, he was part of the side that won the Premiership Rugby Cup in 2020.

He then made a brief return to Russia to play for CSKA Moscow before joining Bath last December, who signed him until the end of the season as a replacement for the injured Beno Obano.

Morozov said: “I enjoyed playing for Steve Diamond at Sale and I am looking forward to working with him again at Worcester Warriors

“I know how Steve works and what he expects from his players. I am excited to be joining the club and hope that I can help Warriors become a top six Premiership club and one who competes regularly in the Heineken Champions Cup.”

Bath Rugby head coach Neal Hatley admitted he is sad to see Morozov depart the club

He said: “Val has been a great addition to our squad over the second half of the season.  

“He’s quickly become a very popular member of the squad and with the injuries we’ve had at loosehead, he has not just helped fill a void but added value to the team with real commitment.

“We are sorry to see him go and we all wish him and his family all the very best at Worcester.”