FLY-HALF Tom Heathcote believes Worcester Warriors can learn from a series of near-misses in last season’s Aviva Premiership campaign.

The former Scotland international played 20 times for Warriors last term and kicked 143 points as they consolidated their place in the top tier of English rugby.

“Personally, I was really happy with how things went last season,” said 24-year-old Heathcote.

“Coming into the club from Bath, I couldn’t have asked for much more from the campaign.

“From a club perspective, I think it was a job done in one way to consolidate ourselves in the Premiership.

“But there were a lot of games where we felt we should have won or picked up a losing bonus point or matches which slipped away from us in the last 15 or 20 minutes.

“We also won four games in a row, which the club had never done before in the Premiership, and we can take a lot of confidence from that.”

The ex-Bath playmaker thinks the strength of the Premiership has gone up a notch with the arrival of big names over the summer.

Versatile South African back Willie le Roux and Australian full-back Kurtley Beale have joined Warriors’ Midlands rivals Wasps.

Northampton Saints have snapped up France number eight Louis Picamoles and Australian fly-half Matt Toomua has pitched up at Leicester Tigers.

“The Premiership has a lot of big names this season and I think it will be another big step-up,” said Heathcote.

“Players who might have been tempted to go to France in the past are now coming to the Premiership with the increase in the salary cap and money from BT, so it’s only going to increase the quality of the league and the games,”

Warriors begin their new Premiership season with a stern test against reigning champions Saracens at Twickenham on Saturday (2pm).

After two comprehensive defeats to the London club last term, Heathcote is hoping Warriors will be able to “bridge the gap” against Sarries in the curtain-raiser.

“Saracens were the best side in Europe by a considerable margin last season and fully deserved their victories over us last season,” said Heathcote.

“It’s a great test for us because they put a lot of points on us in both games last term.

“Having played them in the final game of last season, it will be a good test to see if we have been able to bridge the gap in the first match of a new season.”

Heathcote added: “There will be an emphasis on each player to win their one-on-one battles and it will be a good opportunity to see how much we’ve improved as individuals and as a team over the summer.”