FLY-HALF Jono Lance is scheduled to return to Worcester Warriors next week when he will begin training for the new Premiership season.

It will be the first time Lance has trained with most of Warriors’ squad since he left the club for Australia in late December.

The 28-year-old made eight appearances for Worcester during a successful three-month spell before joining Queensland Reds ahead of the Super Rugby campaign.

And his form continued Down Under, notching 99 points in 15 outings for the Reds including a try-scoring display in their season-ending 48-27 victory over Sunwolves earlier this month.

Lance has signed a two-year deal at Warriors and director of rugby Alan Solomons said he was looking forward to welcoming him back at Sixways.

“Jono is due to come back on August 1,” Solomons said.

“He finished playing on July 13 and I promised him a break as he needed to get a couple of weeks off.

“We understood that he needed to see his family and Super Rugby is tiring.

“They did have a small break in it but I am giving him two weeks off.

“We won’t let him play until we are happy that he is ready.”

Solomons said he was also keen for the likes of Lance to live close to Sixways as he believes it will make a big difference.

“(Head coach) Rory Duncan has got a place on the back of a farm about five minutes from the ground,” Solomons said.

“(Attack and backs coach) Neil Doak is living in an apartment close by too and I think that’s a big thing.

“Cornell du Preez and Anton Bresler have both moved into Worcester and I would like to see as many of the lads and my staff here in the city as possible.”

Hooker Joe Taufete’e’s wife and young son have made the move to Worcester from the USA this summer.

And Solomons reckons it will have a positive effect on the 25-year-old’s performances on the pitch next season.

“Joe is a terrific rugby player,” Solomons said.

“The great thing now is his family is settled in Worcester and I think that is going to help a lot as it is very difficult when your family is far away.”

Taufete’e played a starring role in USA’s Tests against Russia, Scotland and Canada in June but is already back in training with Warriors.

“He is in good shape and joined us for the camp in Spain,” Solomons added.

“Obviously we will bleed him in as the other lads are ahead of him but he is a really fine player and a fine bloke.”