MIKE Ruddock has admitted he is considering a swoop for former All Black tight-head prop Kees Meeuws to bolster his front-row options.

The Warriors director of rugby has revealed the 35-year-old — a veteran of 42 Tests for New Zealand — is on his radar should he opt to bring in reinforcements to his pack.

Ruddock, who wouldn’t be hampered by work permit regulations as Meeuws holds a Dutch passport, said: “He is a player who interests me if we did decide to strengthen that area of the squad.

“We are compiling a list of players and he is on it, along with other tight-heads.”

The highly-regarded prop, who missed all of the 2008/09 season with an Achilles in-jury, is back in New Zealand after leaving his two-year deal with Magners League outfit the Scarlets — by mututal consent — in July, but is thought to be keen on securing a short-term deal in the northern hemisphere.

Meanwhile, as reported in your Worcester News yesterday, Warriors back row prospect Jake Abbott has been selected at openside for tomorrow’s Guinness Premiership trip to Newcastle Falcons (3pm) — with club skipper Pat Sanderson moving to number eight.

After expressing his disappointment at his pack’s performance in last weekend’s 26-22 home defeat to Harle-quins, Ruddock has dropped loose-head Adam Black in favour of his namesake Callum, who came off the bench to bag a late bonus point with a try against the men from The Stoop.

“I was disappointed with the performance up front last week — the players are aware of that,” said the Warriors director of rugby.

“Because of that I’ve made some changes to the pack with Callum and Jake rewarded for their good form with deserved starts against Newcastle.

“Newcastle will fancy their chances and will look to push the ball around and play some attractive rugby. What we need to do is be mindful of that, be really enthusiastic in our line press in defence, pressure them at all times and hit the tackle area.”

Wing Marcel Garvey (hand) and veteran French prop Olivier Sourgens (knee) are both not quite fit enough to figure, while lock Craig Gillies will hit a milestone in the game as he makes his 150th Premiership appearance.

Warriors: Latham; Gear, Grove, Tuitupou, Benjamin; Walker, Powell; C Black, Lutui, Taumoepeau, Rawlinson, Gillies, Wood, Abbott, Sanderson. Reps: A Black, Fortey, Gilding, Bowley, Talei, Arr, Crook, MacRae.

Falcons: Tait; Williams, Vickerman, Tu'ipulotu, Amesbury; Gopperth, Young; Golding, Vickers, Hayman, Hudson, Sorenson, Wilson, Welch, Levi. Reps: Walker, Ovens, Ward, Swinson, Afu, Charlton, Miller, Bobo.