WORCESTER Warriors have signed Northampton Saints loosehead prop Ethan Waller.

The 24-year-old will move to Sixways in the summer and is a ready-made replacement for Val Rapava Ruskin, who has penned a big-money deal at Gloucester.

Waller has played 85 times for Northampton, racking up 46 Aviva Premiership and 20 European Champions Cup appearances during his time at Franklin’s Gardens.

He rose to prominence in the Northampton academy before making his debut for the club against Harlequins in November 2012.

Warriors head coach Carl Hogg said: “We are delighted to welcome Ethan to the club – a player who has won the Premiership title and experienced Champions Cup rugby.

“Ethan has been part of a successful Northampton side in recent seasons and has already gained huge experience at the age of 24.”

Waller’s first-team breakthrough came in the double league and cup-winning campaign of 2013/14 – a season which saw him make 15 Premiership appearances and win the club’s Young Player of the Season award.

He had previously been a regular for Northampton Wanderers in the Aviva A League during the 2010/11 season before enjoying loan spells at Coventry in 2011/12 and Birmingham Moseley during the 2012/13 campaign.

He has since become a key member of the Northampton squad and is viewed as someone with a big future in the game.

Waller said: “I am looking forward to the challenge of moving to Sixways and helping Warriors to become an established Aviva Premiership side.

“I am immensely excited about starting my Warriors career and will be hungry to work hard to ensure the club can continue to move forward.”