DIRECTOR of rugby Dean Ryan has urged frustrated front rower Jerome Schuster to grasp his opportunity at Worcester Warriors after signing a short-term deal at the club.
The 28-year-old joined Warriors from Leicester Tigers last week as injury dispensation for loose-head prop Jeremy Becasseau, who has undergone surgery on a neck injury, until the end of the season.
The signing of Schuster, who is capable of playing either side of the scrum, also comes after Rob O’Donnell was confirmed as Worcester’s only fully-fit tight-head prop.
Jon Andress looks to be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with a slipped disc issue, while Ryan revealed Euan Murray, who recently recovered from an Achilles injury, has been called up to Scotland’s squad ahead of this weekend’s Six Nations fixtures.
It left Warriors in a desperate position and Ryan said he was delighted to snap up Schuster, who has won two caps for France, before the end of the transfer window.
The versatile prop has struggled to hold down a place at Welford Road since joining the East Midlands outfit from Perpignan in the summer and Ryan believes Warriors could offer Schuster a platform to prove a point.
“We’ve only got two tight-heads and February 28 was the cut-off and no-one can move after that particular window, so if I didn’t do anything we’d only be left with one tight-head,” Ryan said.
“Schuster is frustrated at Leicester that he hasn’t got game-time, so hopefully Jerome can flourish and if he does then we’ll be delighted for him.”
