WORCESTER Rugby Club have stung the Bees with the signing of Birmingham & Solihull prop Lee Fortey.

The former Moseley man has turned down the chance of staying on at Sharmans Cross Road in favour of a promotion challenge at Sixways.

The 27-year-old will be used primarily as a loosehead following the departures of Gareth Mason and George Davis and will go head to head with fellow Gloucestershire player Tony Windo.

"We feel his best position is at loosehead and that gives us four top class props competing for places," said Worcester's director of rugby John Brain.

"Lee can actually play in all three front row positions so that ties in with what we want in the squad, players who can be flexible and play in a number of positions.

"I know Lee. He is a Gloucester boy, very aggressive and he will certainly push any of the props we have at the club at present."

With Windo, Neil Lyman and Adrian Olver all retained from last year's squad it gives the management a number of options.

And for Brain, Fortey will push the present three far harder than last season's understudies.

"Windo and Lyman did a good job for us last season," added Brain. "But they can expect fierce competition now with the signing of Lee.

"I know Adrian Olver wasn't happy about being left out last season so I know I have two props who are gunning for Windo and Lyman's places.

"We start with a clean slate when the guys return to training on Tuesday so it will certainly be interesting. Lee is a no-nonsense player. What you see is what you get from him and he is 100 per cent committed to the cause.

"When a game gets physical, he is more than capable of dealing with those kind of situations and he will also be very good for team spirit which is vital.

"There are no prima donnas here at Worcester anymore and Lee's signature is another example of that."

Training starts next week with two absentees. Gavin Pfister is remaining in South Africa to continue his rehabilitation following shoulder surgery while new signing Matt Evans is on a pre-booked holiday.

Werner Swanepoel's Achilles injury has cleared up while Mark Gabey (arm) and Nnamdi Ezulike (knee) are progressing well.