New deal for Grove (From Worcester News)

New deal for Grove

6:00am Thursday 23rd February 2012 in News By Tom Guest, @tomguestWN #WENsport

DEFENSIVE rock Alex Grove has pledged his future to Worcester Warriors after agreeing terms on a new contract at Sixways.

The Scotland international centre, who is thought to have extended his stay by a further two years, has been one of the first names on Richard Hill’s team-sheet this season.

The 24-year-old follows Matt Mullan, Shaun Perry, Chris Pennell, Jonny Arr, Ravai Fatiaki and Danny Gray in agreeing new terms in recent weeks.

Grove, who has made 76 appearances for Warriors, won high praise from Hill, who hailed him as “one of the best, if not the best, defender in the 13 channel in the Aviva Premiership”.

Hill added: “Alex has been an automatic selection this season. Alongside Dale Rasmussen, he has clearly been one of the best centres at the club. He has been consistently excellent week in and week out, particularly in defence.

“It is one of the most difficult positions on the field to play with so many decisions to be made, but he is intelligent, very talented and a big tackler, who makes sure nobody goes through him.

“Off the field, Alex is a superb professional with a great attitude. He was always very keen to stay at the club and is passionate and determined to bring success here and enjoy that.

“This is his club and he wanted to stay. I want people with that attitude, to want to win for this club and want the Warriors to take off.”

A product of the Warriors academy system, Solihull-born back Grove represented Scotland at under 18s, 19s and 20s before breaking into the full squad.

He received his first call-up for the November internationals in 2009 and started the games with Fiji and Australia and featured against Argentina.

Grove spent the early part of the 2010/11 season on loan at Edinburgh before returning to Sixways to help Warriors achieve promotion back to the Aviva Premiership.

He said: “I’m really pleased to have sorted my future out and to commit to Warriors.

“I always wanted to remain at Sixways and to help the club realise all the ambitions it has.

“It’s is exciting to see the calibre of players being signed and retained by the coaching team for next season. Also the plans the club has to grow, both on and off the field.

“The Aviva Premiership is definitely the best league I have played in.

“It is a lot more physical, quicker and you are playing with and against some of the best players in the world. That challenge each week is what makes this league so exciting.”