TONGAN international Sililo Martens is aiming to help Worcester become one of the top clubs in England.

The 22-year-old's contract expires at the end of this season but the scrum-half hopes he can impress enough to remain att Sixways.

"My first aim is to get into the first team and my goal from there is to get into the First Division with Worcester and be successful," he said.

"And I'm a loyal guy, I'm not just here for the money I play for pride and hopefully I'll be with Worcester a long time."

Martens was born in New Zealand but lived in Tonga between the ages of two and five - returning to Auckland unable to speak English.

He grew up playing club rugby with Pakaranga and also a couple of games with Auckland B but decided he could develop his international career by moving to England.

"There are so many half-backs hanging around Auckland and I wanted to start getting some game time," he added.

"England is a nice place to live but since I arrived the weather has turned cold and that makes me want to go back home!"

But with Tongan team mate Sateki Tuipulotu also in the Worcester squad the process of settling into a new home, club and lifestyle has been easier.

Marten's 15 international caps and World Cup experience will certainly help him adjust to life on the pitch at Sixways.

"It was an awesome experience, to play the All Blacks and England was just amazing," he added.

"There were more than 70,000 people at Twickenham and the noise as we ran out of the tunnel was just incredible."

Worcester's chief executive Geoff Cooke opened contract talks with the Tongan straight after the All Blacks game and he visited Sixways before his country's exit at the hands of England.

He agreed terms with the club but then had an agonising one-month for a work permit from the Home Office.

But he has now been training for the squad for two weeks and travelled with the squad for today's top of the table clash against Leeds at Headingley.

The timing is now right for him to play a role in Worcester's promotion dream.