WARRIORS have added a considerable amount of bulk to their midfield options by signing English-born centre Andy Symons from New Zealand side the Tasman Makos.

Standing at 6ft 5ins and weighing in at 17 stones, the former Leicester Tigers trialist will certainly provide some go-forward for Dean Ryan’s Worcester back-line.

Symons, who hails from Hertfordshire, first started playing for Saracens Amateurs and Old Albanians, before training with Sarries’ academy.

The giant centre then moved to New Zealand where he came under the wing of former All Black Aaron Mauger at Christchurch club High School Old Boys.

After Mauger noticed the young centre’s talents, Leicester had a look at Symons, who linked up with the Welford Road club and featured in several LV= Cup games for the Tigers.

The Englishman has played regularly at 10, 12 and 13 in his career, but is most comfortable at inside-centre where he is a strong ball-carrier and long-range goal-kicker.

Warriors have also brought in 18-year-old lock Shay Kerry, who will join the Sixways academy set-up.

Director of rugby Ryan said: “Andy and Shay are two young kids who we have put in the mix to see if they have the potential to grow.

“Andy is a young lad who was in the Leicester academy and then went across to play in the ITM Cup for Tasman and has done pretty well.

“He’s here for the rest of the season and hopefully next year too – we have a few options there – but if he has enough potential to grow, then he’s exactly the sort of lad we want at the bottom end of the squad.

“I might try to get him on the bench for tomorrow’s LV= Cup game at Cardiff Blues as the timing is right when we have a break from the Aviva Premiership.”

Ryan added: “Shay has played some age group stuff out in New Zealand – he’s English, but has been living out there.

“Because of the gap we’ve got in the academy process, that’s the sort of kid we have to put in. Normally, he would be the sort of player coming through the system, but we just don’t have that. He’s got potential and we want to see where that grows.”

Kerry, born in Folkstone, was part of the Millwall Football Club academy, before he moved to New Zealand in 2007, where he attained a football scholarship with Otago Grammar School.

He played football for New Zealand under 17s, before a coach from his school asked him to switch to the oval ball game. After making the school’s first XV, Kerry progressed into the New Zealand development side and he also played for West Harbour under 20s.