WORCESTER Warriors have snapped up Scotland and Bath back-row forward David Denton.

The 27-year-old will make the switch to Sixways this summer after 23 appearances for their Aviva Premiership rivals over two seasons.

Zimbabwe-born Denton, who can also play at lock, qualified for Scotland through his mother and has played 35 times for his adopted country with his last appearance in June 2016.

Warriors director of rugby Gary Gold said: “David is a powerful athlete who will add more firepower to our back row.

“He is a strong ball-carrier with international experience and we look forward to his arrival in the summer.”

The 6ft 5ins player featured four times in Scotland’s 2015 World Cup run, starting the quarter-final against Australia as the Wallabies edged the contest by a point.

Educated in South Africa Denton played for Eastern Province before moving to Edinburgh University to study economics.

He soon rose to prominence after producing a string of impressive displays for Scotland in the 2010 Under 20s Six Nations.

His fine form earned him a deal with Edinburgh while he also represented Scotland on the sevens stage before being named in Andy Robinson’s provisional squad for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

During his time at Edinburgh Denton made 79 appearances, starting 74 times, and was part of the side who reached the European Challenge Cup final in 2015.

He joined Bath under Mike Ford later in the year after Sam Burgess returned to South Sydney Rabbitohs.

But Denton endured a 2016-17 season marred by injury and reports from the West Country suggest he was under contract for another year at the Rec before the deal was done.

He said: “I can’t wait to get started at Warriors.

"Gary and the team are clearly pushing in the right direction and I want to play a part in driving the club up the Premiership table.

“It was a really frustrating year for me with the injury but on the whole I’ve had a great time with Bath.

“It’s a great group of people at the club and I’ll be sad to leave them but at the same time I’m really excited about joining Worcester and the next phase of my career.”

Denton ruptured his hamstring in the first match of the 2016-17 campaign at Northampton Saints and after surgery was not back until early this year.

His path into the team was then blocked by other options at number eight and in the blindside flanker berth.

Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder said: “Dave is a quality player and his injury has meant he has not had as much game-time as he’d have liked.

“I’ve no doubt he’ll be a great addition to the squad at Worcester and we wish him all the best.”