Mike Ruddock is ready for his second season at Sixways

Worcester Warriors director of rugby Mike Ruddock says he cannot wait for next season to start.

Following Sunday's defeat against Bath in the European Challenge Cup Final, Ruddock says he feels his squad will now make the best use the break.

"Some of the younger boys need a rest away from the club," he said. "But it will be a short pre-season.

"That's not a bad thing, but it will be an opportunity to get more cohesion to take into the warm-up games."

Ruddock and coach Clive Griffiths came under pressure after a poor run early in the season. But, starting with the win at Sale in January, they became one of the form teams in the league, beating Gloucester and Leicester at Sixways in a run of just two defeats in eight league games.

And Ruddock told BBC Hereford and Worcester that he has already turned his thoughts to next season in the Guinness Premiership.

"I am really looking forward to next season," said Ruddock. "We like to think we have done a lot of the hard work, rebuilt the mindset of the squad and, to a certain extent, rebuilt the squad.

"There's been a lot of player turn over and it all takes time, but hopefully we'll come back in good shape and in good order.

"The new Experimental Law Variations will be interesting and that will be a new challenge for us."

Ruddock also confirms that he does have a least one more signing to announce, and it is widely felt it will be a new fly-half.

"We are almost there," he said. "99 % there, just waiting hear back from one chap in particular."