WARRIORS have unveiled their Three Pears Senior Academy squad ahead of the 2016/17 campaign.
Will Butler, Tom Dodd, Ben Fowles, Kailus Hutchinson, Joe Morris and brothers Afeafe and Navarre Haisila Lokotui will all link up with the Sixways set-up for the new season, joining Josh Adams, Justin Clegg, Charlie Hewitt, Andrew Kitchener, Sam Ripper-Smith, Jamie Shillcock, Jack Singleton, Huw Taylor and Zac Xiourouppa.
The Haisila Lokotui brothers, who are English-qualified, will arrive from Australia having played at age-group level for Melbourne Rebels and Melbourne Storm in rugby league.
Versatile back Afeafe, has represented Tonga at under-20 level, while younger brother Navarre can play anywhere along the backline.
Afeafe said: “I’m truly blessed to have been presented with this opportunity to move to England in order to continue my rugby education.
“I’m really excited to get started with Warriors and I cannot wait to meet my new teammates and begin working with the coaching team.”
Navarre said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge of playing in England and adapting to a different style of rugby and culture on and off the field.
“I couldn’t have wished for a better club to join and I’ll be doing all I can to repay the faith the club’s coaching staff have shown in me.”
Butler, Morris, Dodd, Fowles and Hutchinson have been promoted from Warriors’ under-18s academy, which marched towards a first-ever appearance at the Under-18 Academy Finals Day in February, beating Exeter Chiefs 44-19 in the final.
And while giant lock Charlie Hewitt has signed a new academy deal, tighthead prop Gareth Milasinovich and winger Perry Humphreys have been promoted to the first team.
Nick Johnston, high performance director said: “We’re genuinely excited about the talent coming through as we continue to focus our attentions on developing young players for the first team.
“Thanks to the backing of the board, the investment in our academy set-up is already coming to fruition with 17 of our youngsters having played at international level, between the under-16 and under-20 age groups.
“We now have five players coming up from the under-8s and have five academy players who’ve represented England at under 20s level.”