Thomas Lombard has hailed the Warriors support and revealed Sixways will always have a place in his heart after ending his three-year love affair with the club.
France international Lombard has bid au revoir to Warriors and returned to his homeland as his rugby career goes full circle with a move back to first club, Racing Club de France in Paris.
But the popular centre admits life at Sixways will remain in his blood and he will continue to keep a close eye on events in the Guinness Premiership.
And the 31-year-old has now tipped the club to power forward next year with the help of a loyal fanbase that will live long in his memory.
“Of course I feel sadness to be leaving Warriors,” he said. “This has been a great time in my career and very interesting for me and my family.
“I will take with me good memories of the rugby I have played and the people I have met. I’ve made good friends in Worcester and I plan to come back and see the boys when I get chance, I will keep in touch.
“I settled in the area and my wife Stephanie and my two daughters really enjoyed this experience, one of my daughters, Lili, is now fluent in English. She loved going to school in Tibberton and is sad to leave and go back to France.
“And, of course, I will definitely miss the Worcester supporters – they have been just unbelievable to me.
“They really know how to enjoy the game here. The fans embrace the game and always have the right state of mind by always backing the team. In France it can be different, sometimes they can be aggressive.
“But the character of the fans here is superb, they are always respectful and I will always remember the noise and atmosphere here at Sixways on big match days.”
Lombard, a versatile player who was able to cover wing and centre, was one of the club’s biggest ever signings when he joined Warriors in July 2004 from leading French side Stade Francais. He had previously spent eight years with the French side, winning four league titles.
Lombard has gone on to clock up over 60 appearances for the Warriors and score 10 tries during his three seasons at Sixways,
And he admitted there are a number of highlights that he will cherish as he heads backs across the English Channel.
“There are games that will stay in my mind forever,” said Lombard, who won 16 caps for France in an international career which spanned from 1998 to 2001.
“In the first year of the Guinness Premiership when we beat Northampton Saints on the final day was so special. That was a great first season for me.
“Then there was what I thought was my final game at Sixways against Newcastle last year, to have all the supporters giving me a big send-off as I walked around at the end and saying good-bye was emotional.
“And then when we stayed up on the final day of this season, that atmosphere was so amazing.
“I believe my game has improved here and I’ve worked hard to improve my skills, I have much more experience now as a player. Also the training regime has helped me, that had a very positive impact. But I have also learnt a great deal about myself through my time in this country.”
Lombard will no longer be making the headlines for Warriors after boarding the ferry back home last weekend.
But the flying Frenchman has revealed he aims to remain in the media with a new role to look forward to – and that will keep him bang up to date with Worcester’s progress!
“They show some Premiership games in France so I will watch them, but I’m also going into the commentator’s box for French TV to do a little bit,” he said.
“That means I will keep in touch and up to date on what is happening here, I am sure I will be talking about a positive future for Warriors and the team will go forward next season.
“I want to stay involved in rugby and going more into the media, with the experience I have enjoyed in England, is an option. But for now I plan to keep on playing for as long as the body will let me, I enjoy the game too much to stop now.”
.jpg)