SCRUM-HALF Francois Hougaard returns to the United Kingdom tomorrow (Tuesday) but looks set to be picked for South Africa’s autumn international programme in Europe.

The Worcester Warriors livewire has been involved in the Springboks’ Rugby Championship campaign and started on the wing in their 57-15 home hammering by New Zealand last Saturday.

South Africa finished runners-up in the competition to the All Blacks and now face matches against the Barbarians (November 5), England (November 12), Italy (November 19) and Wales (November 26).

Hougaard last played for Warriors in their penultimate match of last season’s Aviva Premiership campaign when they lost 31-17 against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road in April.

Warriors lacked physicality, particularly in the first half of last Saturday’s 34-13 defeat against the Tigers which leaves them second-bottom in the table with just one win form six matches.

Warriors receive at least 14 days’ notice from World Rugby when any of their players are called up for international duty.

Warriors head coach Carl Hogg said: “Francois should be back in the country by tomorrow (Tuesday) and then we will wait for clarification from the South African Union to whether he will be involved in their autumn internationals.”

Warriors head to Moscow to face Russian outfit Enisei-STM in their European Challenge Cup pool three opener on Saturday.

Worcester are travelling on Thursday, but Hougaard has not been registered for the competition.

Warriors resume their Premiership programme with a trip to Harlequins on October 29 and host Northampton Saints in round eight on November 18 before travelling to Exeter Chiefs on November 26.

Hougaard, 28, joined Warriors in February and was the catalyst for an upturn in form as they climbed to Premiership safety last season.

With Hougaard pulling the strings from nine, Warriors won four successive top-tier matches for the first time in their history.

He has played nine times for Worcester so far, scoring twice, and was named as the Aviva Premiership player of the month for March.

The experienced Jonny Arr, 27, has grabbed the starting jersey in Hougaard’s absence but Luke Baldwin looked sharp at scrum half when he came on against Tigers.

Arr has notched up 183 first games for Warriors and is just three shy of 'Aleki Lutui, who stands fourth in the all-time appearances chart for the club.

Hogg said: “There’s no doubt Francois is a world-class player but it’s fantastic when you have got somebody of Jonny’s ability and character steadying the ship.

“Of course we will welcome Francois back when he arrives but we shouldn’t underestimate the influence of someone like Jonny on the team.”

Hogg added: “Jonny is a Worcester Warrior through and through. I think he started with Worcester at under-6s and he’s been here a huge amount of time. “We welcome back Francois but we are very fortunate to have somebody of Jonny’s stature at the club.”