SCRUM-HALF Jean-Baptiste Bruzulier admits it was a childhood dream to play for French giants Clermont Auvergne and now he wants to break into Worcester Warriors plans.

The 23-year-old learned from, among others, the experienced Morgan Parra in his loan spell with the French Top 14 club during the World Cup.

He is expected to play a part in Worcester’s home European Challenge Cup group opener against French club La Rochelle on Saturday (3pm).

“I would like to thank Worcester Warriors for letting me go to France because it was a schoolboy dream to go to such a big European team,” said Bruzulier, who returned to Sixways last week.

“I think I started three out of the six games for which I was at Clermont and I learned quite a lot, especially from some of the big names.

“At training you can have 3,000 or 4,000 people watching you and, after the home games, thousands of people take to the streets. I have never experienced anything like it."

Bruzulier made a disappointing Championship debut for Warriors 12 months at Plymouth Albion but bounced back to captain Worcester Cavaliers to the Aviva A-League final.

He then skippered Worcester to British and Irish Cup success at Doncaster and was outstanding against Bristol in the Championship play-off final after Jonny Arr was suspended and Charlie Mulchrone broke his foot.

He said: “If I hadn’t played in the Championship semi-final and final I would never have gone to Clermont.

"I have to keep my head down and keep learning. I feel more confident – I have learned what rugby is all about and I just need to enjoy it.

"Until the end of my contract I will always fight and give everything I have."

Bruzulier acknowledges he remains behind Arr and Mulchrone in the Warriors pecking order, while Luke Baldwin is sidelined through injury.

Bruzulier believes La Rochelle’s will be an interesting test for Worcester.

“La Rochelle are a very good club who have come on leaps and bounds. But do they travel well away from home? I am not sure.

"But they have some massive lads. We will have to play our own game and run them around a bit and, fingers crossed, we will come out with a good score.”

Bruzulier's last appearance at Sixways was when Warriors clinched promotion to the Premiership in May.

“The Worcester supporters have been brilliant and I want to thank them for supporting me while I was in France. It will be good to see them on Saturday.”