Worcester have released scrum-half Andy Gomarsall a year before his contract at Sixways was due to expire.

The former England half-back spent just one year with the Warriors following a big-money move from local rivals Gloucester but failed to find the form that won him 23 caps for his country.

Having played injured at the start of the season the 31-year-old never rediscovered his best in the blue and gold and his departure will come as a surprise to no-one.

The writing was daubed on the wall a couple of months ago when Worcester recruited Welshman Ryan Powell to compete for the starter's berth that had already eluded Gomarsall.

Having lost his place to 2004-05 incumbent Matt Powell just before Christmas he never fully recovered and looked a shadow of the player who was considered the best distributor in the country.

Once his service to Shane Drahm failed there was little place for him to go given he lacks the pace and breaking ability of Powell.

He looked to have earned an England reprieve when, having been initially dropped from the England squad, he was summoned for the Six Nations match against France in Paris in March as emergency cover for Matt Dawson.