HIGHLY-rated Worcester Warriors loosehead prop Val Rapava Ruskin has made the most turnovers in the Aviva Premiership.

“Phenomenal athlete” Ruskin made four “jackal” turnovers against David Humphreys’ Gloucester last Friday and has already racked up six after two matches.

The Georgian-born powerhouse is being tipped for a bright future in the English game after 17 Aviva Premiership appearances for Warriors last season, scoring two touchdowns.

Ruskin’s father George played international rugby with Georgia but it would appear the prop, who turns 24 next month, is eyeing an opening with the Red Rose.

“Val is a phenomenal athlete,” said Warriors head coach Carl Hogg.

“He’s a great example of putting someone in an environment where he gets well coached with Mefin Davies around scrum and he gets all the added extras and back-up resources to maximise his potential.

"You can see Val is getting better and better every week.”

Ruskin, a former back-row forward, played for the Georgia under 19 age group side and has previously been offered a chance to play for the senior Georgian squad.

During his debut campaign for Warriors, Ruskin made 23 appearances in the Greene King IPA Championship, crossing the whitewash on seven occasions.

He becomes an English-qualified player in 2017.

Hogg said: “Last season, he (Ruskin) started off the bench for most of the games but by Christmas he had evolved and become a starter.

“He’s evolved through the summer and is growing and growing with every game. He’s got real potential, is a super athlete and a very good player.”

Ruskin and his front row partners James Johnston and Niall Annett were superb in the scrum against Gloucester as Warriors gained the upper hand at the set-piece.

“We got five penalties against Gloucester at scrum time and I think that was a huge feather in our cap,” said Hogg.

“If you look at some of Gloucester’s international players, we dominated at scrum time and that’s something we are looking to build on.”

Hogg added: “Individually, Val contributes to the scrum and his jackal attempts around the park are significant and a big weapon in his game.”