FORMER Royal Marine Paddy Anson will join Worcester Warriors as their new head of strength and conditioning.

Anson has previously worked with Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester and will begin his new role at Sixways at the start of next month “at a crucial time of the season”.

Chris Hart, the club’s current head of strength and conditioning, has been put “on gardening leave” until his contract expires this summer.

Hart joined Worcester in the summer of 2014 from Northampton Saints.

Head coach Carl Hogg confirmed Anson’s arrival will not have an impact on Warriors’ high performance director Nick Johnston who is “very much involved in the club”.

Warriors have been rocked by a host of injuries to high-profile players this term and are second from bottom in the Aviva Premiership fighting a battle against relegation.

Hogg explained: “Chris’ contract expires in the summer and he’s on gardening leave. We chose to take a different path.

“It’s something I have been monitoring for a while.

“Paddy is somebody I have worked with in the past and I know how he works and he knows how I work.

“With Chris’ contract expiring in the summer, I thought it was the right time to make the move.”

Anson has a “wealth of knowledge” in the Premiership, having overseen Exeter’s strength and conditioning department for six seasons before spending four campaigns in the same role at Gloucester.

He has spent the last six months working with Great Britain Hockey and the English Institute of Sport at the National High Performance Centre, Bisham Abbey.

A former Royal Marine, Anson completed an exercise and sports science degree before combining a strength and conditioning role at Hartpury College with a masters in coaching science at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff. Hogg said: “We welcome someone of Paddy’s experience to head up our strength and conditioning department at a crucial time of the season.

“Paddy is equipped with huge expertise and implemented some of the best training programmes in the Premiership during his spells at Gloucester and Exeter.

“I’ve worked with Paddy previously. He’s got huge experience and a wealth of knowledge within the game over a number of years so I am delighted to bring him on board.

“He was originally at Exeter when they laid the foundations of their work ethic and culture about five or six years ago and they have gone from strength to strength.”

Hogg added: “Paddy is someone I respect hugely. I think the physical demands of the game, particularly at the top end, are paramount and conditioning is a key foundation to your success.”

Warriors round off their European Challenge Cup campaign against Russian minnows Enisei-STM at Sixways on Saturday (2pm).

Worcester cannot progress to the knockout stages after their 17-14 defeat at French outfit Brive last weekend but will be keen to avoid the wooden spoon in Pool Three.