FORMER Worcester Warriors lock Graham Kitchener believes his younger brother Andrew has got a “big future” ahead of him at Sixways after they lined up against each other for the first time.

Andrew, seven years Graham’s junior, got the better of their sibling rivalry in last Saturday’s 31-12 Premiership Rugby Cup win over Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

Moments after coming off the bench midway through the second half the 22-year-old second row immediately stole a lineout from Graham, 29.

Although disappointed with the result Graham said it was a “proud moment” for the Kitchener family to see the duo go head-to-head.

“It was our first time together so it was a slightly strange experience to be opposite him in a line-out,” Graham said.

“I think he stole a lineout soon after he came on so I’ll be having words.

“Dad always said that he didn’t really want to see us play against each other but it happened and little brother came out on top so fair play to him.”

Graham left Worcester in 2011 to join Leicester but keeps a close eye on Andrews’ progress at Sixways and reckons he can hold down a place in the Warriors side.

Andrew has made 24 appearances since making his first-team debut in October 2016 and has featured three times in the Gallagher Premiership this season.

“I have been really impressed with him,” Graham said.

“He’s made the step up to the Premiership really well.

“Even when he came off the bench on Saturday he put himself about with his physicality.

“He’s a pretty tall unit and stole a couple of our lineouts which is another string to his bow.

“Whenever he has got the chance at Warriors he has acquitted himself well so I think he’s got a big future.

“If he gets a run of games and maybe puts on a couple of kilos he will be in that team for a long time.”

Andrew is also a big admirer of his elder brother and did not expect to get the chance to play against him.

“It was fairly weird,” Andrew said.

“There’s quite a big age gap between us so I have grown up watching him play.

“It was always unlikely that we would get the chance to play against each other.

“Once we got out there it was pretty normal, we tried to treat it like any other game.

“But when there was a stoppage we went over and had a few words and a bit of a laugh.

“I have been to plenty of matches where I have been cheering Graham on.

“It’s been great to see him rise through the ranks to become an established player at Leicester.

“It’s been great to see that but being on the pitch with him was a little bit different to usual.”

Graham joked that he would now avoid talking to Andrew about rugby but insisted he and his Tigers team-mates would use the loss as a "learning curve".

“If we don’t learn from that then it’s an even more embarrassing defeat,” Graham added.