WORCESTER Warriors’ new recruit Darren Barry is determined to force his way into the starting line-up when the new Aviva Premiership season kicks off.

The 25-year-old lock, whose rugby hero is former New Zealand star Jonah Lomu, has been impressed with the Sixways set-up since arriving at the club in June.

Darren O’Shea, Dan Sanderson and Christian Scotland- Williamson are the other locks in Warriors’ first-team squad.

“I am hungry to be in the starting line-up and be involved as much as I can but I will be taking it one game at a time,” said Barry, a former Cornish Pirates player.

“It was always going to be a big challenge whichever league Warriors were in but there is so much potential for players to move forward at this club and it’s an exciting time to be involved.”

Bristol-born Barry played against Warriors in the Championship last term and represented the divisional XV in a 28-23 win over Canada at Sixways in November.

He watched from the stands as Warriors, with lock James Percival in superb form, secured promotion from the Championship after a remarkable fightback against Bristol in the play-off final in May.

The experienced Percival has since joined Grenoble in France’s Top 14.

Barry recalled: “I was in the crowd for the Bristol play-off game, screaming and shouting.

“My head was in my hands just before the end. It was a complete rollercoaster andI’m happy to be a member of a Premiership club.”

Due to the World Cup, clubs in the top flight have an extended summer break and Warriors mark their return to the Premiership with a clash against Northampton Saints at Sixways on Friday, October 16.

However, first Worcester host the Barbarians in a warm-up game on Saturday, September 5, before entertaining Wasps on Saturday, September 26, and travelling to Saracens on Saturday, October 3.

Barry, who is 6ft 6in, was a regular for Pirates during his three seasons at the club and racked up more than 80 firstteam appearances.

Before his move to Pirates, Barry made 60 appearances for Bristol in all competitions, including the Aviva ALeague.

He said: “There are great facilities (at Worcester) and I’m excited to be here so hopefully we’ll have a really good season.

“It’s a completely different level to what I have seen before.

The backroom support is immense with everything planned down to the last detail.

The level of professionalism shown across the club is phenomenal.”

Earlier this year, Warriors’ director of rugby Dean Ryan said Barry had excelled in the Championship and demonstrated an ability to continue his progression in the right environment.

Barry added: “First impressions count for a lot so that is my aim at present.

“There are players in front of me so I will need to impress as much as I can to get my opportunity.

“I am still getting to know everyone because there is a big backroom team. I’m looking to have a good pre-season and impress the coaches.”