WARRIORS lock Andrew Kitchener will step up to the senior squad at Sixways at the end of this season.
Kitchener, 22, is currently a member of the Three Pears Warriors Academy but has made impressive progress this season and will become the latest player to graduate to the senior squad.
“Kitch is a fantastic young home-grown player. He has had to overcome a few injuries this season, but in the last few games he has shown why he is so highly-rated,” said Warriors director of rugby Alan Solomons.
“It’s a natural progression for him to move on to a senior contract where he will continue his development. I expect big things from him next season and have no doubt that in time he will play for England.”
Kitchener will be joined in the senior squad by his older brother Graham, another Academy product, who is rejoining Warriors for next season after a stint with Leicester Tigers.
Like his brother, Kitchener Jnr was born and raised in Shropshire and joined the Three Pears Warriors Academy in 2014.
He made his senior debut in 2016 and has now made 31 first team appearances – the latest as a replacement in Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership victory over Gloucester at Sixways.
Kitchener was a member of England’s World Rugby Under-20s Championship winning squad in 2016 and has been combining his rugby commitments with studying at Birmingham University.
He is the latest player to graduate from the Three Pears Warriors Academy to the senior squad and the second this week after Oxford University tighthead prop Joe Morris.