JEAN-Baptiste Bruzulier’s loan move to Top 14 giants Clermont Auvergne has been labelled by Dean Ryan as an ‘outstanding piece of negotiation’.
And Worcester Warriors’ director of rugby insisted the French-speaking scrum-half still remained part of his plans at Sixways.
Bruzulier, who started in both of Warriors’ Championship play-off final ties against Bristol, made the switch to Clermont earlier this summer following Morgan Parra’s inclusion in France’s World Cup squad.
Since arriving as cover for Parra, Bruzulier has been thrust straight into the starting line-up which has led to fears over his Warriors’ future.
But Ryan quashed speculation linking the 22-year-old with a permanent move away from Warriors and revealed he would return to the club next month.
“I think it is a great opportunity for a lad to play for Clermont,” Ryan said.
“I have got four scrum-halves, I have got three pre-season games and he will have six games under his belt by the end of October, so I think it is an outstanding piece of negotiation by all of us.
“I think he will enjoy playing for Clermont/. I think it is a great accolade for him and I think he will come back with a stronger CV, and say ‘I want to be first choice here’.”
Luke Baldwin, who joined Warriors from Bristol in the summer, made his club debut against Barbarians on Saturday.
And Ryan said having Bruzulier playing top-flight rugby in France will allow him the chance to see Jonny Arr and Charlie Mulchrone in action in pre-season.
“I know I have got to play Jonny and Charlie and I know I have to make a decision on who is playing against Northampton,”
Ryan added. “I have got to play Luke (Baldwin) as I have not seen him — I can’t bring him to the rugby club and not see him.
“JB is fully aware of that, so playing five or six games at Clermont will not only be a significant enhancement of his experience, but he will be ready to come back and fight for first place here.”