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Matt Kvesic leaves Exeter to head back to where it all started for him

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

England back row Matt Kvesic will re-join Worcester Warriors from Exeter Chiefs on a long-term contract for the 2020/21 season. The 28-year-old made 63 appearances in his first spell at Sixways between 2009 and 2013 before spending four seasons with Gloucester.

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He then joined Exeter in 2017 but has followed the example of lock Graham Kitchener, who re-joined Warriors from Leicester Tigers last summer, in returning to Sixways where his career began. “I’m very excited about heading back to Worcester, a club which showed faith in me and gave me an opportunity as a 14-year-old,” said Kvesic to the Worcester website. 

“It’s my hometown club and it’s where everything in terms of senior rugby really started. Having the opportunity to go back, working under new coaches and with new team-mates, it’s something that really excites me and I’m looking forward to what the future holds and the challenges ahead.

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“I know I’m heading back to Worcester a much different and, hopefully, a much-improved player from the one that left seven years ago. It’s been a massive learning curve for me, full of ups and downs, but I’m determined to do my best for Worcester.

I’m sad to be leaving Exeter and the Chiefs. It’s a great place to play rugby, a fantastic place to live and, from the outset, the club and the supporters have been brilliant with me. My first year was a bit up and down, but last season was up there as one of my best years, if not my best. Having the chance to string a number of games together allowed me to find my form and play my best rugby.”

Kvesic became Warriors’ youngest player in the professional era when he made his debut against Scarlets in an Anglo-Welsh Cup match in November 2009 having arrived at Sixways from Blundell’s School in Devon. He has won four England caps, the most recent against Italy in a World Cup warm-up match in Newcastle and his decision to return to Sixways has delighted Warriors boss Alan Solomons.

“Matt’s decision to commit his long-term future to Warriors is a major coup for the club,” Solomons said. “Matt started his career at Sixways and it is terrific that we are bringing him home the same as we did with Graham Kitchener. He is a physical, abrasive, durable, top-class loose forward, who has deservedly been capped by England.

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“He is also a great bloke and a loyal team man who will add huge value to the squad assembled for next season. I have no doubt that he will make a massive impact here at Sixways and I am really looking forward to working with him.”

Kvesic is Warriors’ second new recruit for the 2020/21 season after fly-half Billy Searle who will be joining from Wasps.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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