FLY-HALF Tom Heathcote has revealed his delight at his regular starts for Warriors in the Aviva Premiership.
The Inverness-born player joined Worcester in the summer of 2015 from Scottish outfit Edinburgh Rugby, where he featured in the Guinness PRO 12 and European Rugby Challenge Cup during the 2014/15 campaign.
Before joining Edinburgh in 2014, the 23-year-old had rose through the ranks at Bath, making his debut for the Premiership outfit in 2011 and going on to score 375 points in 53 appearances.
Despite a couple of injuries during his time at Worcester, Heathcote has been Dean Ryan’s first choice for the number ten jersey – with Ryan Lamb only just returning from a hamstring problem – and has scored 62 points in nine appearances.
“Personally I’m really happy with how my season is going. Obviously arriving here in pre-season I just wanted to work my way into the side gradually and make sure I was involved,” said Heathcote.
“I didn’t know if I’d be starting regularly in the Premiership week in and week out, so it’s very pleasing. It’s what I wanted when I came here and its happened probably a bit sooner than expected.
“I also think its positive to have competition for the jersey, it keeps you on your toes and makes sure you’re at the top of your game which can only be a good thing. It’s nice to have guys who are in contention for places across the whole squad as it lifts the standards in training and matches.
“The set-up here is awesome, you couldn’t ask for much better in terms of facilities and I’m enjoying my return to the Premiership. I think the intensity of the Premiership differentiates slightly from the Guinness Pro 12. It’s that bit higher as there’s always something riding on every game,” he added.
The fly-half represented England through the age groups before committing his international future to Scotland.
He received his first call-up to the senior Scotland squad in November 2012 and made his debut later that month in a Test match against Tonga.
Heathcote went on to make two starts for Scotland in the 2013 summer quadrangular tournament against Samoa and Italy.
When asked about how his nation would fare in this year’s RBS Six Nations, Heathcote said: “It’s a fresh start for England and France. They don’t really know what to expect with their new coaches, but Scotland are settled from the world cup and its virtually an identical squad which will hold them in pretty good stead. Hopefully they can surprise a few people and do well.
“I made the switch to play for Scotland as it gave me the opportunity to actually play and be around a squad within a set-up that probably wasn’t going to happen in England.
“It’s been a while since I last played at international level, but if things go well on the pitch there’s always that opportunity to step up again,” he added.