NEW recruit Sione Tu’ipulotu cannot wait to play in front of the passionate Worcester Warriors fans — especially after joining their ranks for the promotion-clinching final game of the season.

The powerful and versatile Tongan back, who has agreed a Sixways switch from Plymouth Albion, was an interested on-looker among the 12,024-strong sell-out crowd as his new team-mates secured a top-flight return.

The 32-year-old spent the evening mingling with the Warriors faithful and was delighted to see Worcester claim a 25-20 success over Cornish Pirates, which totted up to an overall victory of 46-32 on aggregate.

Tu’ipulotu, who will be primarily used as a centre, but can also play full-back and scrum-half, said: “I’m very excited about the move to Warriors.

“The atmosphere for the final at Sixways was amazing and the supporters gave absolutely everything for the team.

“The support for the team was huge to ensure they won promotion on the night. I was already looking forward to coming to Sixways — after the final that is even more now!

“I guess I could have gone for the easy option and just watched on TV knowing I had signed, but I wanted to be there for such a special day.

“I was with the supporters all night and really got a feel for the club as I walked around. I feel like I was there playing my part alongside the fans and cheering the Warriors on. It was a great day.”

Tu’ipulotu was a star performer at Brickfields, winning Albion’s player-of-the-year award for this season, but he is relishing linking up with Richard Hill’s Warriors.

He added: “I’m very pleased with the move to Worcester and the chance to play the brand of rugby that Warriors will look to adopt in the Premiership.

“I like the style of rugby that Worcester play. I will play whatever style I am told to suit the team — I will do my job. But, from the final, you could see the team looks to play and that will suit me.

“I can play across the back line but I have joined as a centre. The battle for every shirt is going to be fierce with a lot of new players looking to force their way in.

“That can only be good for the team as we look to make an impact in the Premiership. It is amazing that the team has won promotion and I really enjoyed being at the stadium on the day of the final to watch it all happen.

“The team deserves great praise for the way they have performed all season and I look forward to joining up this summer as we look to make an impact in the top-flight.

“It was a great honour to play for Plymouth, where I made many friends, and now I hope to have the same success at Warriors. I already know some of the Islanders.”

Tu’ipulotu will not be making the switch up the M5 alone, though, as Worcester have also recruited his Plymouth colleague George Porter.

The youngster, a highly-rated prop forward, will compete with Matt Mullan and Ceri Jones for the number one jersey.

Tu’ipulotu, who believes the signing of Porter is a shrewd move by Hill, added: “It’s great to see that George is coming to Sixways too.

“He won the young-player-of-the-year award at Plymouth this season and made a real name for himself, so I’m confident he can step it up at Warriors too.”

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