Centre Alex Grove has been a success for Worcester this season

Worcester Warriors director of rugby Mike Ruddock says he would love to field a team made up of players from the Sixways academy.

Nine home-grown players have featured this season due to injuries to some of the club's star players.

"Maybe this journey we are on, where we have to throw these guys in, will be beneficial in the long term," Ruddock told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

"It would be fantastic if we could put a team out made of local boys."

"What I am pleased with is that we continue to unearth really good, young talent at the club.

"Players like Kitchener, Collins, Black, Mullan, Grove, Arr and the like can come through and be the stars of the future."

Ruddock gave starting debuts to five players in the defeat at Harlequins last week, and says he would like to give the youngsters more opportunities: "I am keen to bring them through and I would like to do it from a position of strength.

"On occasions we have just had to throw them in but, to a man, they have acquitted themselves superbly.

"Jake Abbot was brilliant at Harlequins, he showed he has a big future in the game.

"He is passionate about the club and the more like him we have the better."

Worcester take on Brive at Sixways on Saturday 11 April in the European Challenge Cup quarter-final (kick off 1300 BST) and there will be full commentary on BBC Hereford & Worcester on 104 fm and on line.

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