SCRUM-HALF Jean-Baptiste Bruzulier will leave Worcester Warriors this summer to join French third-tier side Nevers.

The 23-year-old joined French Top 14 outfit Clermont Auvergne for a spell during last autumn's World Cup.

He captained Warriors to British and Irish Cup glory last season.

And the Welsh-born number nine came to Warriors' rescue 13 months ago, shining in the Championship play-off final against Bristol after Jonny Arr was suspended and Charlie Mulchrone was ruled out with a broken foot.

Last autumn, Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan stressed Bruzulier still had a future at Worcester and believed he player’s short stint at Clermont was an “outstanding piece of negotiation”.

At the time, Ryan said: "I think he will play there, get a six-game CV and come back to say he wants to be first-choice here and I will then have had a look at Luke (Baldwin), Charlie and Jonny.

“There isn’t anything else to be read into this. He’s coming back at the end of October and that’s perfect timing to compete for a place here.”

But the fans' favourite has never featured in the Aviva Premiership and fell down the Sixways pecking order after the arrival of Baldwin from Bristol.

Bruzulier played for French ProD2 club Le Pays d’Aix and trained with Top 14 giants Toulon before arriving at Worcester in the summer of 2014.

Ryan said this afternoon: "I'd like to thank JB (Bruzulier) for his efforts during his time at Sixways, especially during the latter stages of last season where he was thrust into first-team action and helped the side gain promotion from the Championship

"We wish him all the best in his next chapter in France.”