DIRECTOR of rugby Gary Gold insists the signing of veteran scrum-half Peter Stringer “laughs in the face of everything” Worcester Warriors are about.

Stringer, who will celebrate his 40th birthday in December, is one of the oldest players to have figured in the Aviva Premiership.

And ex-Ireland star is poised to break Tony Windo’s club record which has stood for almost 10 years ago.

The legendary prop was aged 39 and 10 days when he turned out for Worcester against Newcastle on May 10, 2008.

But Gold stressed the arrival of Stringer should not detract from Warriors’ aim to bring through young talent, insisting his new signing was an “exceptional circumstance”.

“Ordinarily we would not go out and sign a 39-year-old,” Gold said. “It laughs in the face of everything.

“If you asked me what is the one thing you would want to be about at this club it is bringing our youth through.

“I think I have done that in the time I have been here but this is an exceptional circumstance.”

Stringer won 98 caps for Ireland and made 230 appearances for Munster before arriving in England in 2011 where he has played for Saracens, Newcastle Falcons, Bath and Sale Sharks.

Gold described the number nine, who has joined Warriors on a six-month deal, as a “fitness fanatic” and “consummate professional”.

“I think everywhere Strings goes everyone raises their eyebrows as you do not expect a 39-year-old to be able to still run the bleep or yo-yo tests,” Gold said.

“He is still able to keep up with the youngsters so you should not discriminate against somebody’s age.

“Very few people are able to do that because of the toil that rugby takes on a human body.

“But we are just fortuitous that he is a person who has looked after himself.

“He is tee-total and has always been a fitness fanatic so I am really happy with what he can bring to us in the short-term.”

Stringer links up with former Ireland and Munster team-mate Donncha O’Callaghan who turns 39 in March.

“When you have been brought up in the correct way (like Donncha and Peter have) and you start getting into the twilight years of your career then every last chance you have to play rugby you cherish it,” Gold said.

“We want somebody who brings that hunger and wants to make a difference because they know they have not got 10 years left in the game.”

But Gold believes Stringer will face stiff competition from Jonny Arr, Luke Baldwin and Michael Dowsett for a starting place.

“I don’t even know if Strings will play,” Gold said.

“The way Luke is training at the moment along with the other guys I am very satisfied.

“But it is about having that older head in the squad when you are training and going through the tough times.”

Francois Hougaard is expected to represent South Africa in the Rugby Championship which runs from August 19 until October 7.

Gold added: “We have been open and honest with Strings about the fact our number one nine will be coming back from duty so that’s pretty much why it worked so well.

“Strings knows what our expectations are and visa-versa.

“I am just excited to see what he can bring to the team from an experience and leadership point of view.”