Gloucester Rugby: Matt Cox to sign for Worcester Warriors

GLOUCESTER flanker Matt Cox is at the centre of a contract tug of war – and Worcester Warriors are winning the battle.

The 25-year-old joined the Cherry and Whites from their local rivals in 2010 but is out of contract in the summer.

Gloucester have offered Cox new terms but he is set to return to Sixways and Ryan Mills will join him in a dual move up the M5.

Cox has remained tight-lipped over his future but it The Citizen understands an announcement is impending.

In the meantime the back-row forward insists his focus is on the pitch with the Cherry and Whites.

Cox has enjoyed plenty of game-time this season, in part due to injuries but he has grown in prominence with each encounter.

He said: “At the start of the season it was pretty tough to get into the team but now I have had opportunities and I’m regularly involved I’m quite happy.

“I’ve been involved, in some shape of form, in the last 12 or so games so it was good to have a break.

“It’s the best run of games I’ve had since I’ve been here – previously it was just two or three games.

“Now I’m playing regular rugby you get that match fitness and game smartness.

“I’m happy with the way I’m playing at the set-piece and I have been carrying and tackling well. But I can’t afford to rest on my laurels if I want to hold onto the shirt.

“I’m looking forward to Wasps at home on Saturday and hopefully after having a week off I well be up for selection.”

Gloucester are already out of the LV=Cup but there remains plenty to play for in the remainder of the season.

While the Cherry and Whites languish ninth in the Aviva Premiership table, there are just 10-points separating them from sixth-placed Wasps.

Nigel Davies’ men are also in the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup and Cox is convinced they can rescue some pride.

He said: “We had a slow start to the season but hopefully at the back end we can start picking up some results to redeem ourselves.

“There’s plenty to salvage from the season, we have some big games coming up.

“But from where we have been there is no margin for error and we have to start picking up points every time we play.

“It’s nice that we’re seeing some daylight, we have our confidence back and can continue moving forward.”

He admits confidence is a key issue for the Cherry and Whites but insists if the pack continue to provide a platform they can prosper.

The forwards have come in for plenty of criticism this season but they were more than a match for Perpignan’s juggernaut pack two weeks ago.

Cox said: “We’re very much a confidence team and once we’re playing well as a group, individuals will start to shine.

“On a personal level I just want to keep doing what I’m doing and giving everything for the cause.

“I love the confrontational side of things when your back is up against the wall.

“There’s plenty of healthy competition in the squad and people pushing for jerseys is a positive for the coach.

“The pack have pulled through – against Perpignan we were winning scrum penalties and generally our lineout has been good.

“If we have a set-piece platform we can release guys like Jonny May and Charlie Sharples in the backs.

“It also makes it easier for us in the back-row, in terms of getting over the ball and gain-line.

“Now we have to continue building. We have some big games coming up and they will be key.

“Momentum can start to snowball and the bigger it gets the more you are like a freight train which is difficult to stop.”

Article source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/welsh-rugby-crisis-irb-not-6481350

Gloucester Rugby: Matt Cox to sign for Worcester Warriors