PROMISING Worcester Warriors forwards Zac Xiourouppa and Nick Rigby have been sent Down Under to get a taste of New Zealand rugby.

Back row Xiourouppa has joined Orental Rongotai Club who brought through the likes of All Black stars Ma’a Nomu and Julian Savea.

Loosehead prop Rigby, who is in Worcester’s academy, has linked up with Piri Weepu’s former team Hutt Old Boys Marist Club.

The duo are currently playing for the Wellington-based clubs before returning to Warriors next month ahead of the 2018-19 season.

Director of rugby Alan Solomons felt the experience in the Jubilee Cup would benefit the pair, especially Xiourouppa who has been blighted by injuries.

The 20-year-old missed the entire 2017-18 campaign due to a foot problem but has been promoted from the academy to the first team.

“Zac has got potential but the poor lad has had a litany of injuries,” Solomons said.

“Worcester have the same arrangement as Edinburgh had when I was there.

“Sammy Hidalgo-Clyne went across to Canterbury so Zac and Nick have gone to New Zealand and should be back in August.

“Touch wood, Zac can come through unscathed and can have a season where he doesn’t get injured.”

Bridgnorth-born Xiourouppa, who has captained England at under 18s level, was handed his Warriors debut in October 2016 when they visited Russia to face Enisei-STM before featuring against Brive a week later at Sixways.

But he has not made a senior appearance since due to a bad run of injuries.

“This experience will be really good for him as he has just not played rugby in this past season,” Solomons continued.

“Wellington is a good franchise so this will be really good for a young boy like him to get away into a different environment.”

Along with Xiourouppa, ex-England under 20s lock Justin Clegg will also form part of Worcester’s 45-man senior squad for the upcoming season.

The academy graduate, 21, has made three outings for Warriors with his last coming off the bench against Dragons in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in February.

“Cleggy has got a little back problem at the moment which we are sorting out,” Solomons added.

“But he has been studying for a degree in history.

“He has not had the opportunity to be in a full-time professional environment so this will be his first season.

“He is pretty excited to get going and I think he is a really good player.”