BACK rower Matt Cox says he wants to end his career at Worcester Warriors after penning a new two-year contract.

The 30-year-old forward, who made his first-team debut in 2008, has racked up 88 appearances during his time at Sixways.

Redditch-born Cox enjoyed a four-year stint with Gloucester but returned to Worcester in 2014 and has established himself as a “valuable” member of the squad.

“This is a club that I want to keep fighting for,” Cox said.

“It’s my home club and I’ve been here since I was 15 so I don’t want to move.

“The club means a lot to me and to all the people involved – those who support it, those who play for it and those who work for it.

“I would like to end my career here. I certainly don’t see myself playing for anyone else.”

Head coach Rory Duncan believes Cox “embodies” Warriors’ spirit, saying he “punches well above his weight”.

Cox has faced stiff competition in the back row and had to bide his time for a chance at the beginning of the season.

But his impressive performances in the European Challenge Cup and Premiership Cup have seen him climb up the pecking order.

Cox produced a man of the match display in Worcester’s 20-13 victory over Harlequins in his first league start of the campaign last month.

And Duncan said the experienced Cox had also bagged further awards at the club for his committed showings.

“Since day one he has been the guy running the pack and lifting the heaviest weights in the gym,” Duncan said.

“He punches well above his weight. Matt has done extremely well for us this season. He is a really committed player and has won a couple of man of the match awards.

“We do awards internally as well and he has received the work-rate of the week award about three or four times.

“He has been a really valuable player in our system this season.

“He epitomises the Worcester Warrior.”

Duncan conceded he had been “pleasantly surprised” by the impact Cox who joined Warriors from Woodrush as a 15-year-old had made at the club.

“I do believe that Coxy has stepped up his game,” Duncan said. “I didn’t have the opportunity to work with him last season but I have certainly been impressed with him.”

Cox has also turned out for Worcester Cavaliers on several occasions but Duncan said the ex-Gloucester man never moaned.

“Coxy just gets on with the job at hand and that’s what makes him easy to coach,” Duncan added.