THE choice of Donncha O’Callaghan as Worcester Warriors’ skipper has been popular, according to team-mates Josh Adams and Will Spencer.

The former Ireland and British and Irish Lions lock retains the captaincy for tomorrow’s Aviva Premiership battle with Exeter Chiefs at Sixways (3pm).

O’Callaghan led Warriors to a 24-18 victory against Saracens last Saturday after South African back row Dewald Potgieter was ruled out with an ankle injury.

New director of rugby Gary Gold says O’Callaghan is “exactly the type of guy” Warriors need to “carry on leading the club”.

Club captain Gerrit-Jan van Velze has been out with concussion since a blow to the head in Warriors’ opening match in September, while Phil Dowson and Potgieter have also captained the side in the top tier.

Full-back Adams said: “Donncha’s a character and an awesome guy and I’ve got so much respect for him and what he’s achieved in the game.

“With his wealth of experience from Lions tours to World Cups and crunch Six Nations matches, he brings all that.

“When he sits us down to give us a chat everyone buys into what he’s saying and he’s a really good captain and a leader and I think he showed that last Saturday.”

O’Callaghan’s second row partner Spencer said the Irishman pumped him up the day before Warriors’ match against Sarries.

“Donncha had me really to go to battle on the captain’s run on the Friday because he speaks so passionately,” said Spencer.

“You want to follow him into battle because you know he will give everything and you don’t want to let him down. He’s also a calm head on the pitch and having that helps.”

Gold, who arrived at Sixways earlier this month, said: “I got the impression Donncha relished the leadership role and I thought he played one of his better games for a while.

“Donncha might be 37 years old but he’s an outstanding professional who looks after himself incredibly well.

“I’ve been so impressed by him as a person and he’s not dissimilar to Peter Stringer from when I worked with him."

He added: “Clearly, there’s an outstanding culture where those two come from and are brilliant professionals.

“I think Donncha is exactly the type of guy we need to carry on leading the club.”