Worcester trio out for the season

Tevita Taumoepeau played his 100th Warriors game this season

Worcester Warriors will face the remainder of the season without three of their regular first-team forwards.

Props Tevita Taumoepeau and Chris Horsman as well as back row Matt Cox have all been ruled out with injuries

Taumoepeau has had an operation on his shoulder, Horsman is out with a neck injury and Cox suffered a dislocated shoulder in the defeat by Bristol.

Director of rugby Mike Ruddock said: "I have never seen anything like this, where we've so many major injuries."

Tonga international Taumoepeau, who has played a total of 105 senior games for the Warriors, has made 23 appearances this season, while Wales international Horsman has been restricted to just 13 games.

"It's a blow to lose such experienced players as Tevita and Chris for such a long period of time with the league run-in and European Challenge Cup quarter-final to come," said Ruddock.

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"There is no doubt that some of our lack of form is down to not being able to apply pressure to the opposition in the scrum with key players like them missing.

"It's quite unbelievable. We already have a number of long term injury victims such as Sam Tuitupou, Chris Latham and Chris Pennell.

"Netani Talei is also struggling with a back injury, which is why he didn't make the bench against Bristol, and James Collins had another fitness test prior to our Bristol game which forced him out.

"But on the positive side, we are fortunate to have such a good academy structure here.

"That now gives an opportunity for a number of young players to put their hands up and become the next Miles Benjamin or Matt Mullan."