SUPPORTERS should not be concerned with rivals clubs’ interest in Worcester Warriors scrum-half Francois Hougaard, insists Sixways boss Dean Ryan.

Aviva Premiership rivals Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs and French Top 14-bound Lyon are all reportedly interested in capturing Hougaard for next season.

But Ryan says Warriors have already spoken to Hougaard about next term and want to see whether the livewire enjoys his time at the club.

Ryan said: “People like Wynand Olivier have a huge amount of confidence in this place and if people who have been at World Cups and the Blue Bulls start talking about this place in a very positive light, we are more likely to have successful conversations with high-profile players.

“We have left it pretty open (with Hougaard) and if he enjoys it here and, we enjoy him being here, then it will be pretty easy to talk about the future. There isn’t any first option on him or anything like that.

“Francois is here until the end of the season and he’s here to see if he enjoys it – it’s really as simple as that.

“If he doesn’t enjoy being here then he won’t stay and that’s the same for any player.”

Hougaard has signed a short-term deal at Worcester until the end of this term and will join the South African Sevens team for the Rio Olympics.

“There’s a lot made of contracts and it’s very easy to say ‘let’s contract him now’,” said Ryan.

“But we have got to find out if the bloke wants to be here.

“He has come in to do a specific job for us from the relationships we’ve got with other high-profile players and we need to get on with that.

“We would love him to stay. I have had that conversation with him but what is really important is that I would love him to want to stay at Worcester.

“I am not worried by what everybody thinks about it and other teams want him.

“If he wants to be here he will stay here and we want him to stay here because he’s the level of player that interests us. Nobody needs to worry that that work hasn’t been going on.

“We’ve only had a few days with the guy and now suddenly everyone wants it to be all sewn up and I just think that would be unrealistic.”

Hougaard, 27, starred on his Warriors debut last Saturday, scoring a try and giving a superb display in his side’s 31-23 victory against Sale Sharks.

Ryan said: “Francois did his job for the team. He made the team move around and his kicking was sound. He had pace on the ball and took a great try but he’s got he’s also got huge experience on the wing and in backfield so there’s more as a footballer to come from him."

Ryan added: “To be a high-profile player here you need to understand the challenge and you want to get engaged with the challenge. He’s already shown he wants to do that and his commitment at the weekend was phenomenal. But, ultimately, the choice lies with Francois and where he sees his own life. He’s got the Rio Sevens in the summer.”