WORCESTER Warriors’ drive to have more England-qualified players will be “reflected” in their recruitment for next season, according to chief executive Jim O’Toole.

Work has begun at Sixways to retain and sign players ahead of the 2017-18 campaign and O’Toole says fans should expect “some exciting news” at the start of next year.

As part of the Rugby Football Union’s £220million deal with Premiership Rugby, clubs can secure funding if they meet England-qualified player (EQP) thresholds throughout the season.

And O’Toole revealed Warriors have a “strategic objective” to name between 15 and 18 EQPs in their 23-man matchday squad “over the next couple of years”.

“Our focus going forward is to have balance in the squad which is in favour of England-qualified players,” he said.

“If they are not English, you want them in your starting 23 and prepared to buy into the Worcester story.

“In an ideal world, you would have a squad of 15 or 18 English men, supplemented by non-England-qualified players.

“And we have a strategic objective to get towards that over the next couple of years.

“Our recruitment and retention of existing young talent in the forthcoming window will reflect that.” Tighthead prop Nick Schonert and England international Chris Pennell have signed new deals along with young backs Jamie Shillcock and Perry Humphreys.

According to a national report, loosehead prop Val Rapava Ruskin, who is also England-qualified and out of contract at the end of the season, has attracted interest from reigning champions Saracens.

However, O’Toole refused to comment on speculation, saying “discussions will come to fruition at the right time”.

“We are entering a very interesting period of the window and I am sure there will be some exciting news coming up on both renewals and new players once we get into the window post-January,” he said.

“It’s a four-dimensional jigsaw puzzle and that’s why we have got experts in recruitment who will be doing that job once the window has opened.”

Jan McGinity, who joined Warriors as head of recruitment in August, says his role is to put together “a largely England-qualified squad supplemented with international players”.

O’Toole added: “Jan has an extensive knowledge of both the English market place, the rest of the British Isles and of course internationally as he was an agent before he became an in-house recruiter.

“He is incredibly well connected and, when the time comes to identify new players in the forthcoming window, I am sure he will deliver for us.”