All Black stars Tuitupou and Gear to leave Sixways

‘Pocket Rocket’ centre Tuitupou was offered a new contract at Sixways but stalled on signing it and has now decided to walk away after the club’s relegation from the Guinness Premiership was sealed.

The former Auckland Blues midfielder — who made a big impact at Worcester since signing in 2007, scoring 13 tries in 54 appearances — has been heavily linked with a move to Welsh region the Ospreys.

Warriors general manager Charlie Little said: “Sammy had a contract offer with us which was beneficial on both sides — if we went down we would chat about it in that he could go elsewhere or we could terminate the deal.

“I think, subject to him passing a medical with another club, we wouldn’t expect him to be with us next year. He’ll have to pass a stringent medical examination wherever he goes and I imagine he’ll be undertaking that procedure and looking to move elsewhere.

“Again, with Rico, I would envisage him not being at Sixways next year.”

While Tuitupou's bone-crunching tackling made a huge impression in the Premiership, the impact of Gear, who arrived with the reputation of being a prolific winger on the highest stage having scored 10 tries in his 18 caps for New Zealand, has been a great disappointment.

A return of six Premiership tries from 42 outings — including just one league score in the last two seasons — is not what the club expected when they threw a massive salary his way back in 2007, but Little defended Gear’s legacy.

He said: “Rico came with a big reputation, there’s no doubting that. Has he performed? I’m not one to just go with what he’s done on the pitch.

“In terms of the leadership group, with which he’s been heavily involved, he has helped bring on the likes of Chris Pennell, Marcel Garvey, Miles Benjamin, Alex Grove to some extent, Earl Collins and Mike Penn.

“If, in a couple of years time, we are looking at these guys helping the Warriors to qualify for the Heineken Cup, then you could say Rico has been a good investment.”