Mike Ruddock's team are now bottom of qualifying group P3 in the LV= Cup

Worcester Warriors director of rugby Mike Ruddock admits that he picked a young side for Saturday's LV= Cup tie at Llanelli with an eye on the future.

Warriors were well beaten 32-17 by Scarlets in a game from which Ruddock left out most of his regulars.

But, after criticism from fans, Ruddock insists that it will pay off long term.

"I'm sure people will sit back in a year's time and see these lads playing for the Warriors on a regular basis," Ruddock told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

"Last year we had a lot of injuries and we blooded a lot of youngsters and bought in Alex Grove for one game. And he was making his debut for Scotland this weekend.

"Our bread and butter is the Premiership.

"We have a six-day turn round before we play Bath on Friday.

"We have prioritised our home games in particular and our selection illustrates that."

Ruddock also acknowledges that it is vital the club continue to develop their own players.

"Cecil Duckworth has done a fantastic job," he said. "But we want to make sure we build a rugby model that is sustainable, not just financially.

"We can't rely on him to put money in all the time. We have to run the club as a business and one of the keys to doing that is to bring through young players.

"We may have to buy in certain quality and then blend them with the youngsters that come through to take the club forward.

"We want players who want to play for Worcester, lads who have come through our system, and want to play international rugby.

"If we get a few more guys like Alex Grove and Matt Mullan coming through, then I think other clubs will be envious of us."

Alex Grove has gone from the Warriors bench to Scotland duty in 12 months

Worcester were outclassed by the hard-running Scarlets in the first half but Ruddock points out that the second period was much better.

"We read the riot act at half time," he said. "And, for some of our youngsters, it's a big learning curve.

"But there were a lot of positives in defeat.

"Matt Kvesic came on. He's only 17, and he has a big future.

"He says he found it a bit different to schoolboy rugby, but it's exciting to see kids like that coming through."

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