JOHN Brain has confirmed that Worcester Rugby Club are interested in Russell Earnshaw.

The Sixways director of rugby admitted that the openside flanker, due to be released from his Rotherham contract this week, is on his shopping list.

"We've looked at a number of options to bolster the squad and he's one of the players that we are interested in," he said.

Worcester brought in openside Dean Thomas in the summer but, after he was released early in the season, they have been one down in that department since. With Gavin Pfister's on-going shoulder problems it gives Brain a selection issue every time he picks the South African with him unable to string games together. "We have an on-going issue with Gavin's shoulder and, at present, he is the only specialist openside we have at the club," added Brain.

"We could play Drew Hickey there but we've had an eye on the market for a while."

If everything goes smoothly with Earnshaw's release, he could be involved in Worcester's National One clash with Otley on Saturday.