CHRIS Raymond's return to Old Patesians means his rugby career has now come full circle.

The South West division one side is where the 32-year-old Worcester Rugby Club lock began his career and it will now be the place where he will eventually hang up his boots.

Raymond was born in Cheltenham and joined his home-town club as a junior but as his skills developed he outgrew them.

In 1988 he stepped into the big time joining Moseley where he enjoyed six happy seasons before moving to Gloucester.

He spent two seasons at Kingsholm before Phil Maynard convinced him to become part of Worcester's burgeoning future.

Raymond duly became a permanent fixture in the second row as Worcester won two successive championships and twice finished third in Premiership Two.

The dream of bringing top-flight rugby to Worcester remains unfulfilled but Raymond has now decided to continue his career as a primary school teacher while starting a player/coach role at Old Patesians.

"It was a hard decision, I've been at Worcester for four years and it was hard leaving even though we had our troubles at the end of the season," he said.

"If we had been a successful team leaving would have been more difficult but with Les leaving and all the uncertainty at the club it was a little bit easier.

"I'm moving over to a coaching role so it's a new era for me but it has come a little bit sooner than expected.

"I've no regrets about moving on and where my career is going but it's all the people I'll miss, the players and the fans and the people who have supported me over the years.

"We won two leagues and have come close in the last two seasons, it's been the best time of my rugby career.

"I had always been fighting relegation before with Moseley and Gloucester."

For the past three seasons Raymond has been a full-time professional something he relished every moment of.

"I've loved it, I was able to do my hobby and be paid for it," he said.

"I was able to establish my career first and then I took a two year sabbatical to play the rugby. It just so happened that I also did an extra year."

All the experience gained at Sixways, including time spent coaching Worcester Sixth Form College, will now prove invaluable for Raymond's homecoming.

"I'm really looking forward to being in control a little bit more and the extra responsibility," added Raymond.

"I'll be playing with a lot of friends and I grew up with a lot of the players and I know the families so I'm finally going back to my roots."