New signing Sam Betty admits his whirlwind move into the Aviva Premiership with Worcester Warriors is a massive opportunity he is determined to grasp with both hands.
Pack enforcer Betty has today put pen to paper to become the 13th new face at Warriors this summer and will now link up with his new team-mates ahead of the pre-season training camp in Geneva.
The 24-year-old back row battler will relocate to Worcester this weekend as he starts a new career at Sixways and admits moving away from his native Cornwall and the Cornish Pirates will be difficult.
However, the flanker is determined to take his chance to showcase his talents in the English top-flight and that means pushing himself to new levels under the guidance of the coaching team at Warriors.
“I’m really looking forward to the move – it’s a massive opportunity for me to come to the Warriors,” said Betty. “The whole move has been a whirlwind and has happened quickly, but I am ambitious so when the offer came in I had to act on it.
“I will be moving up to Worcester this weekend, it really has all happened that fast, and I will be living with Ben Gulliver first, who I know from the Pirates.
“It’s going to be hard to leave Pirates after six years. It was a tough decision to leave a positive environment and so many friends. I wish them all the best and hope to see them win the RFU Championship and get up playing Aviva Premiership rugby. Who knows, I could be playing against them in a few weeks in pre-season which would be weird.
“I was born in Bristol but I moved to Cornwall when I was two-years-old so I consider myself a Cornishman. But I’m at a stage of my career and life when I needed new challenges and this will push me on and off the field.”
Betty will now contest a back row division that already includes the likes of Neil Best, Pat Sanderson, Matt Kvesic, Jake Abbott, Kai Horstmann and Adam Balding.
However, the incentive of pitting himself against the best players in world rugby in the Aviva Premiership is set to fire Betty’s career to new heights.
He added: “I know Worcester have got a very talented back row and it is going to be tough to force my way in, when you have played against them you know how hard they are. But that is my motivation, to push myself and get into the team to play Aviva Premiership rugby.
“The chance to play Aviva Premiership rugby is a big incentive. I’ve already have had a little look at the fixtures and website. It is an exciting time for me and I just want to get up to Worcester and get started.
“To move to a higher level means I will be working with some more great coaches, like Phil Davies and Phil Larder, so that can only help me develop.
“I’ve also experienced what the crowd has to offer at Sixways, during at the second leg of the RFU Championship final.
“That was a pretty special atmosphere and the Warriors have a fair few Friday night games this season which I’ve been told a real occasions. I can’t wait to sample that backing behind me.”