ZIMBABWEAN tighthead prop Farai Mudariki has become the 11th signing of pre-season as Worcester Warriors boss Alan Solomons finalised his first team squad for the forthcoming campaign.
The 23-year-old is set for the switch to Sixways at the end of this summer’s Rugby Africa Gold Cup, which serves as a qualifier for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Mudariki joins from Stado Tarbes Pyrenees (Federale 1 – third tier of French Rugby) after spending two seasons at Castres Espoirs, the youth Academy side for Top 14 outfit Castres.
The prop has nine Test caps for Zimbabwe, scoring a try on his debut against Madagascar in a 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifier, and is set for his tenth appearance this weekend against Tunisia.
Meanwhile Matti Williams, who can play at hooker or flanker, has signed a one-year contract extension at Sixways with Academy duo Justin Clegg (lock) and Zac Xiourouppa (back row) promoted to the first team.
Solomons said: “I’m very happy with the shape of our squad for the 2018/19 campaign. We have plenty of strength in depth and I’m genuinely excited about next season.
“A big work-on for us is our consistency. The team has shown on a number of occasions that we can compete with the best in the league but now we must seek to do that on a regular basis as we look to try and drive up the Premiership table.”