WORCESTER Warriors have retained the services of long-serving centre Dale Rasmussen and former Ospreys hooker Ed Shervington for next season.

Despite being close to the Sixways exit door last season when then-director of rugby Mike Ruddock revealed Rasmussen would not be getting a new contract, the Samoan powerhouse, 33, penned a one-year deal with an option for a second after the club were relegated.

Warriors have now opted to take up that extra season, while Shervington, 26, has impressed head coach Richard Hill with his recent displays and will take his stay into a second campaign with a new one-year deal.

However, it appears there will be no new contract for veteran hooker Chris Fortey, 35.

Hill said: “Dale will definitely be with us next year and I am 100 per cent happy with him — he has really hit top form at the right time.

“I think the question was whether or not Dale felt he would want to carry on as he’s been around a long time and has been a great servant to Worcester.

“It was about whether he would have the motivation to carry on for another season but, if you ask Dale, he loves it here and wants to carry on. Anyone who has seen him recently will know he’s full of running and on top form.

“We have retained Ed — I’m very happy with him — and Aleki Lutui is under contract, so we’re just looking for a third-choice hooker to come in behind those two.

“Ed is a modern-day hooker — he’s fast, fit, very mobile and will be a good asset for Worcester.

“We have Ceri Jones as an experienced loosehead to go alongside Matt Mullan, so what we will also be looking for is a young, talented loosehead to back those two up.

“However, Jason Hobson (Bristol prop) won’t be coming to Worcester — I’ve looked at him and I spoke to him at the weekend — but that’s not happening.”

Meanwhile, Hill revealed Jake Abbott, the young openside sidelined by a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, could be back playing in two weeks.

Abbott’s speedy recovery is a timely boost for Warriors with Pat Sanderson suffering a season-ending shoulder injury at Bristol.

Hill added: “We have cover at seven with James Collins and Matt Kvesic. Jake has actually made huge progress — he could well be available for a game in two or three weeks.

“Pat saw a consultant, is having a scan tomorrow and is potentially booked in for an operation on Sunday if he gets the worst news.

“It looks like he’s ruptured the rotator cuff, which is the tendon that runs over the shoulder and lifts the arm up, which would need an operation.”