Worcester Warriors full-back Chris Pennell is to leave after 14 years' service - mostly in the Premiership.

Pennell scored 43 tries in 253 Premiership games for the club.

"I am incredibly proud of my time with the club. I feel very fortunate to have been doing what I have been doing with Worcester for so many years," he said.

"It's a really exciting time for the club with all the changes that have been made. I hope success will be just around the corner."

Pennell, son of the late former Kent, Worcestershire and England Test cricketer Graham Dilley, is open to offers, as well as being ready to pursue a new business interest in the area.

"The romantic in me thinks it would be nice to finish my playing career at Sixways," he said. "But it's also exciting for me to explore other opportunities.

"It has been a good number of years since there was any consideration of playing for another team.

"And with my body but, more importantly, my head in a really good place, now is the time to move on."

The long-time Sixways crowd favourite has been denied the chance of a farewell appearance following the cancellation of Saturday's final Premiership home game against Gloucester because of a Covid outbreak in the opponents' camp.

"Pens is one of the club legends," said Warriors director of rugby Alan Solomons. "To make 250 appearances for one club is an incredible achievement and speaks volumes about the man. He is one of a kind. We have been blessed to have him spend his entire career here."

Warriors head coach Jonathan Thomas added: "I played with Pens when I first came here. He's an awesome person, an awesome friend. Everyone knows what a loyal servant he has been over a long period of time and a consistent performer.

"I have no doubt that he will be a success in whatever he does because he is a class act as a bloke and the way he carries himself. I am sad it's the end of an era because he is a special man.

"The club will not feel the same without him around as a player because it feels like he has been Worcester."