Tevita Cavubati: Worcester Warriors sign Fiji lock

Tevita Cavubati has been capped eight times by Fiji

Worcester Warriors have signed Fiji international forward Tevita Cavubati.

The 28-year-old lock will join the Premiership side after the World Cup.

He will be on the bench, alongside ex-Worcester fly-half Josh Matavesi, for Friday's opening game of the tournament against England at Twickenham.

Cavubati's arrival comes just 24 hours after the enforced retirement of former Wales international flanker Jonathan Thomas, who finished last season at Sixways playing second row.

Worcester have also seen two other locks leave this summer, South African Mike Williams having signed for Premiership rivals Leicester, while long-serving James Percival has moved to France to join Grenoble.

But they have brought in two other new second-row forwards, vastly-experienced Irish international Donncha O'Callaghan and Darren Barry from Cornish Pirates.

"Tevita will provide international experience and physicality in a key area," said Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan. "His time playing at the top level will only be beneficial to our young squad. We're looking forward to seeing him test himself against the world's best over the next few weeks."

"It will be great to follow up the high-level intensity of the Rugby World Cup to move straight into a Warriors team with a passionate fan base," said Cavubati, who left Pro12 team Ospreys in May.

The 6ft 7ins lock, who has so far score one try in eight international appearances for Fiji, previously played for New Zealand side Tasman Makos in the ITM Cup alongside another two of his new Warriors team-mates, centre Andy Symons and summer signing Bryce Heem.