Another of the links connecting Worcester and their largely tortuous time in National One will be severed following the announcement James Brown will leave Sixways at the end of the season.

The 29-year-old has agreed with Warriors director of rugby Mike Ruddock to play his rugby elsewhere next term thereby ending a relationship that started when he moved from London Irish in 2002 and reached its height when he played a leading role in winning the club promotion to the Premiership in 2004.

Ruddock, who has started the Solihull-born fly half just once since the beginning of November, says Brown is at a point where he is ready to move on 'in his rugby and his life' even though the departure, allied to that of Shane Drahm, will leave him with just two recognised No 10s next season.

Gloucester's Willie Walker has been mooted as a replacement but Ruddock yesterday expressed not just his interest in the New Zealander but the difficulties in bringing him to Worcester that could prove insurmountable.

Current regulations permit just a single overseas player to be on the pitch at any one time and with Rico Gear just a few months into a two-year contract it would be impossible to field both the All Black wing and the former Otago playmaker simultaneously.

While Ruddock admitted his interest, he is not optimistic a deal can be reached: "I am holding off at the moment on the basis that I would like my No 10 to be on the pitch with Rico Gear," he said not unreasonably.

That No 10 won't be Brown, a player who has delighted and frustrated in equal measure with his excellent distribution but suspect kicking game. The Post revealed last week that he was looking elsewhere and had aroused interest from Moseley, for whom he played on loan at the end of 2007, as well as several other clubs.

With his off-field interests developing it looks as though part time rugby is the way forward for a player who has spent his entire career involved in the professional game: "We have had a good long chat, talked about his future at the club and the commitment that was going to be required from all players at the club," Ruddock said. "James made it very clear to me that he is thinking about his future outside of rugby, he has a number of business interests.

"When we talked about the commitment that is going to be involved over the next couple of years, both James and myself came to a mutual decision that the time is probably right for him to move on - not only with his rugby but with his life.

"He has been a great player and a fantastic servant for the club. He has helped deliver the goods throughout his time here."

One player who will be remaining at Sixways, however, is veteran prop Darren Morris who has agreed a new two-year contract in the same week he will undergo surgery on a torn bicep and pectoral injury.

Morris's condition will end his season but the new agreement means he will be around until 2010, much to the delight of Ruddock who, with the retirement of Tony Windo is losing not just a link to the promotion side but a valued on-field leader too. Some of the rugby I have seen Darren play this season has been as good as anything as I have seen from him for a long time," the Welshman said of his compatriot and former British Lion.

"If he can reproduce that sort of form over the next two years it is going to make a massive contribution. He can play both sides and is capable with ball in hand. He has got the respect of his peers as a scrummager and for his tight work but he is the sort of player who can catch a difficult pass one-handed or off load to put someone into space - he has got good rugby skills."

Worcester have massive injury concerns ahead of this weekend's trip to London Wasps, particularly at scrum half where Jonny Arr is set for a full debut because of Matt Powell's shoulder problem.

Of the side that beat Montpellier last week, Pat Sanderson has a stinger, Kai Horstmann a hamstring pull, Aleki Lutui a sore ankle while Sam Tuitupou's wrist is sore.