RUMOURS that Warriors centre Sam Tuitupou’s family are unsettled in Worcester and keen to return to their native New Zealand are unfounded, according to Sixways director of rugby Mike Ruddock.

Suggestions had surfaced that the former All Blacks’ wife and children were not enjoying life in the Faithful City and a move back to the southern hemisphere was on the cards.

However, Ruddock has quashed that idea and revealed he has held talks with Tui-tupou about an extension to his Warriors contract.

The Worcester chief explained: “Sammy has alerted us that a family member is ill in New Zealand and he has flown back there this week. I’ve not heard any rumours about Sammy’s family want-ing to move home.

“Obviously he is keen to get back at the moment and that can be unsettling for the whole family. I don’t think there is anything more to it than a very unfortunate family illness.

“In fact, I’ve spoken to Sammy about a contract ex-tension and he seemed pretty keen. That is something we’ll now start to think about and discuss with him.

“Sammy has been fantasic for us — he is very robust and has played 13 times for us already this season, scoring five tries, plus he played in the warm-up games.

“He’s a great character to have around the club and he’s a quality player being a former All Black.

“Those sort of guys you want to retain if you can, so when I talked to him about how well he’s settled he was quite upbeat about it and I don’t envisage any problems for his family on the back of what he’s told me.”

Meanwhile, Ruddock admits it is sink-or-swim time for rookie fly-half Joey Carlisle.

The Sixways academy product, who turns 21 today, is set to start on Friday night in Bourgoin and his director of rugby is backing him to shine.

The European Challenge Cup could provide an ideal stage for the youngster to find his feet after a mixed performance replacing ankle injury victim Loki Crichton after 20 minutes of the Guinness Pre-miership defeat at Saracens on Sunday.

Ruddock defended the outside-half by saying: “Joey will have learnt from that and I want to promote the positives of his game.

“We’ll know more about him after Friday’s match — he’s got the tools and we’re all hoping he is going to make the grade because he’s a talented lad.”