Thinus Delport has admitted that the lure of returning to his native South Africa could prove too powerful to resist as he contemplates ending his glittering career.

Indeed the Worcester threequarter is already back in his homeland enjoying a hard-earned holiday after he last weekend helped the club secure its first Guinness Premiership win of the season.

Delport, who becomes 33 on Saturday, is out of contract at the end of this campaign and although Mike Ruddock, the Worcester director of rugby, has implored the former Springbok to continue playing, there is no suggestion that he will acquiesce.

In fact Delport has already told Ruddock that 2007-08 will be his swansong although he says he intends to see how his body feels now he has come through a gruelling midwinter before making a final decision on his playing future.

"The pull of going home is a big factor," Delport told The Birmingham Post. "I have been over here six years, I have had six Christmases without my family. I'm very family-oriented that's at the back of my mind.

"I had a chat with Mike in the early part of the season and I said I'm taking this as my last year.

"This part of the season from November until the end of January is really hard.

"It takes a big toll physically and mentally. I said to Mike 'I'll see how I feel at the end of this break.' I'll recuperate, come back and we'll have a chat.'

"But first of all I am looking forward to some fishing in Mozambique with a bit of sun. As soon as I am back I will have a word with my dad and we'll discuss what possibilities there are.

"There are some options, rugby and business options. I have always said I want to go into commercial flying and I'm lining something up in that direction."

Delport has been the busiest of all Worcester's players. He has missed only two games this term and has played well on both the wing and at full back indeed he is the club's biggest yardage-gainer.

That is why Ruddock is so keen to retain the veteran. Worcester have already lined up Chris Latham, the Australia international who is only seven months younger than Delport, but he won't arrive until the end of September.

Ruddock has suggested to Delport he could remain at Sixways until then.

"Would I wait until Latham comes? It depends on what the other options are," Delport says.

"The club is really moving forward. We have done the hard yards for four years, we have laid a good foundation and hopefully we can see the rewards soon.

"There is a massive expansion of the stadium, there has been great recruitment this year and some next year the team's building. It will be an exciting side to be part of in the next two or three years.

"I really think things are going to go well for this club and it would be great to be part of it but whether I can make a positive contribution on the field that's the thing I have to sit down and measure up.

"The fans have made their feelings known. The Worcester fans are awesome, they are very vocal and make themselves heard positively and negatively.

"I gather they want me to stay, I thank them for that but it's one of many factors."