TWO brothers from Australia are among seven new faces in Worcester Warriors' senior academy squad for the new season.

Afeafe and Navarre Haisila Lokotui are English-qualified and have played age-group level union for Melbourne Rebels and for Melbourne Storm in rugby league.

Versatile back Afeafe, 18, has represented Tonga at under 20 slevel, while younger brother Navarre, 16, can play anywhere along the backline.

Will Butler (Hereford Cathedral School), Joe Morris (King Edward XI Aston), Tom Dodd (Warwick School), Ben Fowles (Solihull School) and Kailus Hutchinson (Denstone College) are also part of the senior academy set-up.

Afeafe said: "I am truly blessed to have been presented with this opportunity to move to England in order to continue my rugby education.

"I am really excited to get started with Warriors and I cannot wait to meet my new teammates and begin working with the coaching team."

Navarre said: “I’m excited to face the challenge of playing in England and adapting to a different style of rugby and a new culture on and off the field.

"I couldn't have wished for a better club to join and I will be doing all I can to repay the faith the club's coaching staff have shown in me.”

Butler, Morris, Dodd, Fowles and Hutchinson have all been promoted from Warriors under 18s, who enjoyed their best season to date with a first-ever appearance at the Under 18 Academy Finals Day.

England under 18s centre Butler said: “I’m really happy to be joining at an exciting period for Warriors and developing my rugby under the guidance of some of the best coaches around.”

Morris, an England under 18s regular last term, said: “Joining Warriors at under 16 level cemented my ambition to become a professional rugby player and now I can’t wait to get started.”

English Counties Under 18s back row Dodd said: “It’s an honour to join a club I’ve grown-up supporting and I’m looking forward to joining Warriors at an exciting time.”

Fowles, who featured for a Warriors Development XV side at Sixways earlier this year, said: “I’m honoured to be part of the senior academy after being involved since the age of 14 and I can’t wait to work alongside the first-team to help develop my skills.”

Hutchinson added: “I’d like to thank the club for giving me the opportunity to do something I’ve strived to do ever since I started playing rugby.”

High performance director Nick Johnston said: “We’re genuinely excited about the talent that’s coming through as we continue to focus our attentions on developing young players for the first-team.

“Thanks to the backing of the board, the investment in our academy set-up is already coming to fruition with 17 of our youngsters having played at international level between the under 16 and under 20 age groups.

“We saw massive progression from our under 18s and academy last season.

"We have five players coming up from the under 18s, while five academy players have represented England under 20s."

Warriors Academy 2016/17:

Josh Adams (winger, 21).

Will Butler (centre, 18).

Justin Clegg (lock, 18).

Tom Dodd (back row, 18).

Ben Fowles (back row, 18).

Afeafe Haisila Lokotui (utility back, 18).

Navarre Haisila Lokotui (utility back, 16).

Charlie Hewitt (lock, 21).

Kailus Hutchinson (lock, 18).

Andrew Kitchener (lock, 19).

Joe Morris (righthead, 18).

Sam Ripper-Smith (back row, 20).

Jamie Shillcock (scrum-half/fly-half, 18).

Jack Singleton (hooker, 21) .

Huw Taylor (back row, 20) .

Zac Xiourouppa (back row, 19).