LONG-SERVING scrum-half Jonny Arr will bring the curtain down on a 23-year association with Worcester Warriors when the loyal servant leaves the club at the end of the campaign.
The Warriors fan played in the club’s mini and junior section before taking to the field in a Warriors jersey for the first time in 2007, the first of 217 senior appearances in a glittering career.
Arr, a former Royal Grammar School student, is only behind Chris Pennell in the current Warriors squad in terms of years of experience and the 30-year-old said he was committed to carrying on his career elsewhere.
“The immediate emotion is one of sadness it’s all going to come to an end. I have spent a huge portion of my life here,” he said. “I have been playing rugby with a Worcester badge on my shirt since I was seven years of age.
“It has been a huge part of my life and that chapter is going to come to an end. So on one side there will be a feeling of sadness but on the other side it’s one of excitement because I have got the opportunity now to have a new challenge which I think is going to be really good for me.
“I have got no thoughts of hanging up the boots yet. I am only 30, I would like to think that I can still offer a huge amount to a team out there. I will spend the short-term finding what opportunities are out there and which ones are a best-fit.
“I am keen to keep playing rugby. I feel like I have put a few tough years injury-wise behind me and I am eager to continue my rugby journey.
“Whilst it would have been nice to have hung my boots up here and called it a day after seeing my career out with Warriors, it’s not to be.”
Arr recalls the start of his career in a busy summer in 2007. Arr had finished his A-Levels and jetted off on holiday with his friends before being thrown straight into training with the first team.
“I was lucky to play a number of games in that first season which was massive in my development because it was almost a sink-or-swim moment. But I managed to make an impression and that set me up for the next few years,” he said.
The scrum-half said he was honoured to be awarded a testimonial when he scored the winning try on his testimonial day against Gloucester before bringing the curtain down on a year of fund-raising with an event at Worcester Cathedral.
“I have made a lot of good friends, many of them will be friends for life, and I have met a lot of good people. I will look back on an awful lot of good times,” he added.
On the pitch Warriors welcome Gloucester to Sixways on Sunday (April 28) in search of a win which could further cement their Premiership status (kick off 3pm).