EUAN Murray is keen to extend his Worcester Warriors career beyond the initial short-term deal he signed when he agreed a move to Sixways from Newcastle Falcons last month.

The 49-cap Scotland international tighthead joined Warriors this week after representing his country in the Autumn internationals and he is contracted until the end of the season.

However, given the 32-year-old’s impressive pedigree at the highest level and the fact there are huge question marks over whether fellow tighthhead Tevita Taumoepeau will play for Warriors again, the Sixways club will doubtless be keen to retain Murray’s services for the long term.

Tongan veteran Taumoepeau, who hasn’t featured for the club this season due to a nerve issue in his hand following neck surgery in the summer, is not currrently in the club’s plans due to his injury and is out of contract at the end of this term.

Therefore, former Northampton Saints front-rower Murray, who was on loan at French Top 14 side Agen from the Falcons prior to his Sixways switch, appears to be the long-serving Taumoepeau’s heir apparent to the Warriors number three jersey.

Murray said: “I have a family and it is not much fun moving around. I have lived in middle England before at Northampton and we like the area here. We have done a bit of driving around and it is a beautiful part of the world so we would like to settle.

“My wife has spent the week at home unpacking all the boxes. You’ve got to look after your family. I’ve got to look out for my wife and kids and two dogs as well so I’ve got my hands full.”

He added: “Coming here in the past, it is a very difficult place to play. The pressure from the crowd, because the support here is good and the record for Worcester at Sixways is very good.

“There is a psychological edge that Worcester has over others when they play here. That is good for the Warriors and we are looking at taking that out and getting away wins too. That is an area we need to improve.

“I didn’t actually come to the club before I signed, but I’ve played here and I know it’s a difficult place to play. It’s a good team and I just wanted to come to somewhere which was solid both on and off the field.”

Murray was greeted by several familiar faces on his first day at Sixways — both from the international set-up as well as former Saints team-mates.

He said: “I know Alex Grove and Nikki Walker from Scotland and then Besty (Neil Best) and Clarkey (Jon Clarke) from Northampton. The rest of the guys are very friendly.

“The Aviva Premiership is a difficult league, but I have been playing internationals so I am raring to go. It’s good to have competition within the team; it encourages players to work harder and to strive to play their best. It gives you strength in depth within a squad so if one player goes off injured another comes in.

“France was fun. There were a lot of good things about France — food and wine were among them! The rugby was very different though.

“There are a lot of good players and some of it was very off-the-cuff play — but I will be doing what the coaches say and working hard.”