NEWBURY Blues claim Worcester Warriors are set to make Tongan international forward Johnny Tuamoheloa their ninth signing of the summer.

The newly-promoted National One side appear resigned to losing the 27-year-old to Sixways, despite Tuamoheloa recently penning a two-year deal.

Tuamoheloa has been in demand after his seven tries from 25 starts helped secure second place in National Two behind Doncaster last season.

But the Berkshire outfit will demand a fee for the open-side flanker who is currently in his homeland for the Pacific Tri-Nations tournament.

Tuamoheloa's switch has come as something of surprise to Newbury and they will not release him without extracting some cash from the Warriors.

Newbury chairman Steve Barnett said: "We shall be in touch with Worcester and he will not be released until a payment has been made to the club.

"We are very disappointed. It came as a bolt from the blue. We had entered into an agreement with Johnny.

"It is a fact of life of sport at this level that agents are in control these days, but we are not sure that he has been well advised by his agent in this case."

Tuamoheloa would become director of rugby John Brain's ninth acquisition since Warriors survived their first season in the Premiership, following in the footsteps of the likes of Andy Gommarsall, Nicholas Le Roux and Mark Tucker.

However, Tuamoheloa is far from certain of a starting place as England captain Pat Sanderson, playing in the Churchill Cup in Canada, occupies the open-side flanker berth.

Warriors' officials were unvailable for comment today.

Meanwhile, Daren O'Leary, released by Worcester at the end of last season, has opted to drop two levels to join Moseley, who finished a place below Newbury in National Two.

The 31-year-old former Gloucester and Harlequins man turned down offers from higher clubs because he was impressed with the ambition shown at Billesley Common.

He said: "I am very excited about this opportunity. I feel I still have another three or four years good rugby in me, my hunger for the game has not changed.

"I didn't want to just go to a middle of the road National One side who have no ambition."

O'Leary spent two successful seasons at Worcester, scoring 19 tries in their National One promotion-winning campaign. He also had two years at Kingsholm and several seasons at The Stoop.

n Sanderson warns his Churchill Cup hopefuls -- Page 54.