WARRIORS fly-half Paul Warwick has been forced to retire from rugby due to a neck injury.

The Australia-born former Munster and Connacht back, who was under contract with Worcester for next season, announced via Twitter on Saturday night that he was hanging up his boots on medical advice.

He wrote: “Tough news that I have to retire from rugby on neck specialist recommendations.

“It’s sad and unexpected but I feel blessed for what I have achieved and the people I have had the pleasure to play rugby with.”

The 33-year-old was signed by former head coach Richard Hill, but failed to make a major impact at Sixways.

Director of rugby Dean Ryan rotated Warwick and Ignacio Mieres in the number 10 shirt, but neither play-maker impressed, which led to the mid-season signing of Ryan Lamb from Leicester Tigers.

Warwick joined Connacht in 2004, enjoying three seasons with the club, before moving to Munster at the start of the 2007/08 campaign.

A Heineken Cup winner’s medal and two Celtic League successes were just reward for Warwick’s efforts in the red jersey.

Over four seasons with the province, the former Australian Sevens representative played 95 games, scoring no less than 461 points.

Two difficult seasons followed at Stade Francais, before Warwick joined Worcester last summer. However, he went on to make just five Aviva Premiership starts for the Sixways club.