ANDY Short’s decision to return to Worcester Warriors at the end of the season has upset their Greene King IPA Championship promotion rivals Bristol.

Short, who brushed aside Chris Pennell to score a try for Bristol against Warriors on the opening day of this campaign, has agreed terms to return to his home-town club.

Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan said he was delighted to capture the signing of Short, who watched the Cavaliers in the Aviva A-League earlier this month. But Bristol have issued a statement saying they were now “exploring loan options elsewhere” for Short for the remainder of this term.

Bristol’s director of rugby Andy Robinson said: “We can’t afford to have anybody in the squad who isn’t wholly committed to that aim.

“That’s nothing personal to Andy who is a good professional, but agreeing to join a promotion rival at such an important time of the year could serve as a distraction.

“As a result, we will be exploring loan options elsewhere for Andy for the remainder of this campaign.”

Short, who progressed through Warriors’ Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) scheme, scored nine tries in 30 appearances during his first spell at Sixways.

The wing, who can also play at centre, has represented England at under 18, 19 and 20 levels.

Ryan admitted 23-year-old Short had made a “brave choice” to return to Warriors but said he didn’t understand Bristol’s decision to publicly freeze him out of their plans.

“We’ve had some interesting releases from Bristol which I am surprised at,” said Ryan.

“I don’t totally understand it. I might understand it if we were both in play-offs against each other and they chose not to play him in that.

“If Bristol were worried about what he was going to tell us it’s only going to exaggerate the problem now anyway. To push him out this far away seems a little bit strange.”

Ryan says Short fits the profile of the players he wants at Sixways. “He fell out of the system here originally because of a lack of opportunity. The irony is that he’s coming back because he’s being provided with an opportunity. That’s how much things have changed.”

Short, a former Worcester Sixth Form College student, said: “I have always taken a huge amount of pride in representing Warriors so I am naturally delighted to be returning home.”