WORCESTER Warriors’ style of play will be suited to the new state-of-the-art surface at Sixways next season, insists full-back Chris Pennell.

The England hopeful thinks the synthetic pitch, which is being installed at the end of this campaign, is “a really positive thing for the club”.

Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan has been more conservative about the benefits and last week described the pitch as “a commercial decision” by the club.

Pennell said Worcester's players had not been aware of plans to change the playing surface until the day before the official announcement was made.

But he said: “There had been murmurs about it but I think it’s a really positive thing for the club.

“I think the style of rugby we want to play will suit it because we want to play a quick, expansive game.

“I think we have the squad for it and we are growing the squad for it for next season.

“If it can give us a slight edge when it comes to us playing at home then it’s a good thing.”

Warriors will be the first Aviva Premiership outfit to convert to the latest generation of artificial grass pitch ahead of next season.

While Saracens and Newcastle Falcons have switched to synthetic, Warriors will be the first in the UK to feature an organic infill rather than rubber crumb.

The pitch will be produced by Italian specialists Limonta Sport and is expected to offer players a consistently high-quality surface all year and in all weather conditions.

The new turf, which will cost Warriors a significant six-figure fee, allows more use for the club’s elite, academy and community rugby sections as well as hosting events.

Pennell said: “We give our back three a massive opportunity to carry the ball and with a nice, firm track throughout the year even in the cold, dark months it will be a really good thing for us.

“And if you look at the numbers and figures and see how much money the pitch could help generate for the club and what a match-day at Sixways could look like next season it’s a really exciting thing.”