SEVERAL fringe players at Worcester Warriors are set to be shipped out on loan as director of rugby Dean Ryan looks to keep his squad in shape.
Paul Andrew, Richard de Carpentier and James Stephenson could be among the names to sign for RFU Championship clubs on dual registration from the New Year.
The Aviva A League along with the Amlin Challenge Cup and the LV= Cup had provided Ryan with plenty of opportunities to assess the whole of his squad as well as making sure his players are match fit.
But with just two games to go in cup competitions this year, the Warriors boss said he will consider who will benefit from a loan move and who deserves to remain with his first team set up.
“We have had a pretty hefty A league programme and we have had LV and Amlin opportunities where we have been utilising some of our youngsters,” Ryan said.
“But after Christmas we have got to look at the situation and see how we manage their pathways. We will need to make an assessment about whether we can use any of them in the Premiership, so if they impress they will get that opportunity.
Ryan said he has been pleased with the progress of academy prop Jack Cosgrove at Doncaster where he is joined by fly half Elliot Davies, while Tom Chapman is at Nottingham and both George De Cothi and James Young are at National Two North outfit Bromsgrove.
“The last thing we want is people not playing at that age. We need them developing,” Ryan added.
“At the moment there is still opportunities here, which I don’t think there has been in the past, so if people can put their hand up then they will play in the Premiership, which will form the next step in their development.”