NICK Schonert is the latest Worcester Warriors player to buy into director of rugby Alan Solomons’ vision for the club by signing a contract extension.

Schonert joined Warriors from Pro14 side Cheetahs in the summer of 2014 and has since become one of the top tighthead props in the Gallagher Premiership.

He has also regularly been involved in England training squads.

The 28-year-old’s existing contract expires at the end of the current season but he was keen to extend his stay at Sixways and help Solomons achieve his goal of making Warriors a sustainable top-six club.

“I signed because I trust Solly," Schonert said. 

"He is the kind of guy that I have got so much trust for. Trust can be a hard thing to find in sport especially when it comes to coaches and players, but I have full trust in Solly and I have signed for that reason.

“I have been here for six years and I owe a lot to the club. The club has made me into the player I am but I don’t think that over that period we have given the fans what they deserve.

“I would like to look back in 30 years and say that I practised what I preach and that I helped to give the fans a top-six club.

“Life in Worcester has always been very good. My parents have just moved over to Worcester and so there are a lot of good reasons to stay.

“I am really happy that a lot of the other guys are re-signing. It shows where we are as a club.

“This is the first time since I have been here that a lot of the established players are staying. They are all buying into what we are doing.

“For the first time we have got something to buy into and that is Solly.”

Although Schonert missed most of the first two months of the season having sustained a medial knee ligament injury in the Premiership Rugby Cup match at Bath in September, he returned to action as a replacement in the European Challenge Cup match in Castres two weeks ago and started in last weekend’s Gallagher Premiership win over Sale Sharks.

Schonert is the fourth member of the current Warriors squad to sign a contract extension after Ted Hill, Andrew Kitchener and Francois Venter and Solomons is delighted to have retained his services.

“I am absolutely delighted that Sharky has decided to extend his stay with us,” Solomons said.

“He is one of the leading tightheads in the Premiership and a huge asset to the team. He is the consummate professional and has a tremendous work ethic.

“In addition, he is a fantastic bloke and a great team man. All in all terrific news for the club and I look forward to working with him as we look to take the club forward.”