EVERGREEN back-rower Phil Dowson believes Worcester Warriors pulled off one of the signings of the season when luring Ben Te’o from Leinster.

The powerful centre is in England boss Eddie Jones’ 45 Elite Player Squad (EPS) for the autumn series and toured in the summer to Australia as the Red Rose completed a 3-0 whitewash of the Wallabies.

Te’o, who started life in rugby league and played for Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs, enjoyed a breakthrough season for Leinster last campaign after switching codes, producing a series of powerful performances in the PRO12.

The Aviva Premiership season may not have started as Dowson and Worcester would have hoped for but the veteran insists Te’o has been one of the shining lights for Warriors so far this season.

And 34-year-old Dowson, who made over 180 appearances for Northampton Saints, is backing his new team-mate to have a memorable season for club and country.

He said: “He’s very experienced and a very good player, who adds a lot to our squad.

“He’s been in good club environments at Leinster and South Sydney Rabbitohs and brings a lot of experience.

“He’s a strong carrier and, with offloading, hopefully we can try and encourage him to get the ball out of the tackle.

“He’s still finding his feet and getting used to the Premiership. It’s not been a long career in union but we see him as a vital part of the squad in how we move forward.”

Dowson picked up the peculiar honour earlier this season of being the only player in the history of the Premiership to start on 13 separate opening weekends when he appeared against Saracens in the London Double Header.

And the former Northampton Saint believes the management of his workload through his career has been pivotal in his longevity.

“It shows probably two things, the first that I am getting older, the second that I have been quite lucky with injuries,” he said.

“There hasn’t been anything too major and I’ve been fortunate to have clubs that have looked after me.

“I have got through pre-season well and I love the opening weekend, it’s always exciting.”

Premiership Rugby and the 12 Aviva Premiership Rugby Clubs are supporting the Aviva Community Fund, a nationwide initiative which offers funding of up to £25,000 to grassroots sports clubs and other community organisations close to your heart.

Enter at aviva.co.uk/community-fund.