THE new artificial playing surface at Sixways will inspire youngsters to pull on the Worcester Warriors jersey, according to wing Cooper Vuna.

Vuna, who celebrates his 29th birthday in July, believes curtain-raisers before home Aviva Premiership matches will boost Warriors’ profile in the community.

Worcester are replacing their grass this summer with an all-weather state-of-the-art playing surface.

While Saracens and Newcastle Falcons have switched to synthetic, Warriors will be the first in the United Kingdom to feature an organic infill rather than rubber crumb.

Vuna, who topped Warriors’ try-scoring charts with nine last season, said: “It will be a massive change but a great opportunity for Worcester to showcase a lot of younger talent.

“I know we are going to have curtain-raisers before our home games and it will be cool to have those games.

“The matches will help to show Worcester Warriors is all about the community and the young kids who dream to become a Warrior.

“Hopefully, this scheme will help to develop a lot of local players to play for Worcester and encourage people to stay with the club like Chris Pennell has done.”

Warriors’ Premiership rivals Falcons have a synthetic surface and hosted a grass-roots match as a forerunner to their important league clash at Kingston Park in March.

Vuna said: “We were training on the 3G last season and I think the surface will take our game to another level.

“We are an expansive team who love to move the ball around.

“We want to move the ball and let the ball do all the talking."

He added: "The pitch is going to be a lot faster and similar to Southern Hemisphere rugby because it won’t be boggy or muddy.

“It’s going to be a fast track and an exciting time for everyone at the club.”