The man who did as much as anybody to keep Worcester in the Guinness Premiership last season has finally become a Warrior as the Sixways outfit unveiled Loki Crichton as their latest signing.
The Samoan international joins from the Newcastle and was part of the Falcons side that lost 23-21 the last time the teams met in March, though his part in the match was more inauspicious than a mere scoreline can portray.
Worcester, knowing a defeat would probably ensure their relegation, had battled back from 21-6 down to lead in the dying seconds only to concede a penalty just in front of their posts.
Crichton stepped forward but instead of accepting the simplest of goals he produced a barely credible shank that handed the game - and a lifeline - to the hosts.
Such gaffes notwithstanding the 31-year-old has signed a two-year deal that will keep him at Sixways until at least 2009.
Crichton, who is equally comfortable at full back or fly half, has played for the Chiefs in the Super 14 competition and Waikato in the Air New Zealand Cup as well as half a season at Kingston Park.
He has impressed on the international stage since making his Samoa debut in 2006, during the inaugural Pacific Five Nations tournament and was named in the Pacific Islanders' touring squad in 2006 and is currently in action in the iRB Pacific Nations Cup for Samoa.
"Loki is a very talented international player and as such he will bring a huge amount of experience to the Warriors," said director of rugby Mike Ruddock.
"He can play in more than one position and with a demanding season ahead of us he will give us lots of selection options. Loki has a good all-round game with tackling and passing of the highest quality.
"When he played against the Warriors last season he got his back line working very well, particularly in the first half when Newcastle had the ball. Thankfully the Warriors turned the game around in the second half and starved Newcastle of possession. However, Loki showed on that day what he was capable of when given the platform." Indeed.
Crichton, who joins Sam Tuitupou, Greg Rawlinson and Sean Ruwers as the new arrivals at Sixways, expressed his pleasure at moving to the Midlands: "I'm delighted to sign and I'm already looking forward to meeting up with my new team-mates and joining the Warriors family.
"I was very impressed with Mike (Ruddock) having spoken to him about how he wants to play the game and I know that will suit my style. Worcester plan to play some great attacking rugby in the coming season and that is the way I like to play.
"I've already tasted the wonderful atmosphere at Sixways during my time with Newcastle and know the facilities off the pitch are first rate and will only get better in the coming years.
"The supporters at Worcester already have a wonderful reputation in the English game and I plan to be key part of a team that will play a brand of rugby that those fans will relish watching.
"The club has a vision for the future to become the very best in European rugby - I want to be a big part of that journey." n Moseley hooker Dean Bick has left Billesley Common and agreed to join National Two outfit Blackheath.
The 25-year-old has signed a 12-month contract and in doing so ends a nine-year relationship with his hometown club. n The Barbarians will play South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday, December 1 2007, the sixth time the sides have met since 1952.
