CECIL Duckworth believes Worcester Rugby Club's newest signing can be the catalyst for the best season ever at Sixways.

The Worcester chairman, who has ploughed millions into the Gold'n'Blues in a bid to make them a major force in European rugby, is confident new boy Craig Chalmers will be a big hit.

Scotland's most capped fly-half signed a one-year deal yesterday to become Worcester's 17th signing of another highly eventful summer and immediately set his sights on winning promotion to the Zurich Premiership.

Worcester's main rivals for the National One crown this season will be relegated Rotherham and Chalmers will have to recapture some of the world-class talent if he is to inspire victory over the Yorkshire club.

Duckworth, though, is in no doubt that Chalmers at 32 still has the hunger to succeed.

He said: "Firstly, Craig is a class act - nobody can argue with that - his record speaks for itself.

"Secondly, you only have to look at some of his performances in the big games last year to know he still has that spark, that hunger to be a success.

"He is obviously very experienced and will bring a lot of good things both on and off the pitch to Worcester.

"What we need is a consistent performer at fly-half because we have brought in some excellent players around him."

A campaign which ended with the runners-up spot last season has once again brought huge change to Sixways this summer but with promotion now guaranteed for the winners of National One, Duckworth has been able to tempt some top-class talent to Worcester.

Big names such as Ben Clarke, Kingsley Jones and Jim Jenner have been snapped up but it is probably the backs recruitment which will excite many supporters.

Canada's all-time try king Winston Stanley has arrived from European champions Leicester to terrorise defences while Gloucester scrum-half Elton Moncrieff has also joined up for the promotion challenge.

Flying Aussie winger Chris Garrard comes from Queensland while centres Chris Yates (Gloucester) and Duncan Roke (Henley) will battle Scott Barrow for a first-team spot.

And Duckworth is now banking on new coaches John Brain and Stephen Townend finding a winning combination with their 33-man squad.

"It will obviously take a little time for the players to gel but we have brought in undoubted talent which, we are confident, will take us to another level," he added.