SPECULATION linking prop Val Rapava Ruskin with a switch to Aviva Premiership rivals Gloucester has been played down by Worcester Warriors chief Carl Hogg.

The powerful 24-year-old loosehead is believed to be out of contract at Sixways at the end of the season.

He is also understood to have attracted interest from Premiership and European Champions Saracens.

Warriors are keen to keep hold of the Georgian-born forward who joined Warriors in 2014 and has made 55 appearances, scoring 10 tries.

Speculation on social media has suggested Warriors are on the verge of landing promising Leicester Tigers hooker Harry Thacker.

Hogg is also thought to have expressed an interest in Tigers fly-half Owen Williams, who is now being linked with Gloucester.

Under the transfer rules, players out of contract at the end of the campaign are now free to hold contract talks with other clubs.

“This time of year there’s always speculation about players leaving and coming into Sixways,” said Hogg.

“When we have got anything solid, we will confirm it through the normal channels – whether it is people coming in or going the other way."

Asked whether Warriors wanted to sign highly-rated 22-year-old Tigers front rower Thacker, Hogg replied: “We are always in the market for people who can add quality to the squad.

“We look at a number of players throughout the year. When we get something concrete, we will announce it through the proper channels.”

With Warriors second-from-bottom in the Premiership, just two points above the drop-zone, Hogg admitted their lowly position had hindered some contract talks.

“League position inevitably does (affect some dealings) but it’s also about what we are looking to do over a long-term period of time” said Hogg.

“You can see the huge investment in our facilities and the number of young players now coming through the system such as Jamie Shillcock, Jack Singleton, Andrew Kitchener and Josh Adams.

“In the short-term, it has been a disappointing start of the season but you can see the long-term strategic aim of the club starting to bear some fruit.

"We are now starting to get a number of young players in the first team squad and long may that continue.”