WARRIORS loosehead prop Callum Black has announced he will retire from playing at the end of the current season.
Black, 35, has made 103 appearances for Warriors in two spells at Sixways having played 145 times for Ulster Rugby in between.
He joined Warriors’ 100 Club in the opening match of this season against London Irish at Sixways in November and made his most recent appearance as a replacement against Leicester Tigers ten days ago.
“From the age of 14 I knew I wanted to do whatever it took to try and become a professional rugby player,” Black said.
“I never would have thought I would go on to play over 100 games for two great clubs. I feel very privileged and grateful for the opportunities I have had through rugby, it has given me so much and moulded me into the person I am today.
“I would never say I was the most talented player but I tried to play each game as if it was my last and leave it all on the pitch.”
Black was the second member of Warriors’ 100 Club to call time on their career in 24 hours after Matt Cox revealed he’d come to the end of the road on Monday (June 7)
Cox was 15 when he signed his first Academy contract at Sixways in June 2004.
Now 33, he has since made 102 appearances in two spells with Warriors, split by four seasons with Gloucester Rugby, including a try-scoring Premiership debut against Wasps at Adams Park in April 2008.
During his time with Warriors, Cox was capped by England from Under-18s to Under-20s levels, and he also represented England on the World Sevens circuit.
“When you are a kid you have posters on the wall and dream one day it might be you, Worcester helped me achieve that boyhood dream,” said Cox.
“I got to wear an England badge and to play in the best league in the world, I really enjoyed those moments.
“I’ve seen the club grow and watched Sixways change from just the temporary stands where the East Stand now is, three pitches where the main car park is and the surface in the indoor barn being sand and horsehair.
“From coming out of the Championship for the first time in the year that I joined to becoming an established Premiership club, it’s been an amazing journey.
“I owe a lot of those early years to my family, especially my mum and sister for dragging them around the mini and juniors circuit, drinking lukewarm cups of tea out of polystyrene cups.
“Without their support I doubt I’d have made it to professional level.”