DIRECTOR of rugby Alan Solomons anticipates only two of his Worcester Warriors players being involved in this autumn’s Rugby World Cup.

While most Gallagher Premiership clubs will be without many of their top internationals for the start of the season Warriors are set to have almost a full-strength squad.

Wing Ed Fidow who joined Warriors from Provence this summer and hooker Joe Taufete’e have been training with the team during pre-season.

But the duo are expected to feature in the showpiece event in Japan with Fidow representing Samoa and Taufete’e running out for USA.

Samoa have yet to announce their World Cup squad but Solomons confirmed seven-cap Fidow had been called up by his country.

“Ed has been selected for Samoa, so he left last Friday for New Zealand where they are gathering,” Solomons said.

“It was great that Ed was here for the beginning of pre-season because Samoa didn’t want to use him in the Pacific Nations Cup.

“They wanted to give opportunities to other players and Ed agreed that it would be great to have a pre-season with us.

““He has got to know everyone in the squad and has been properly bled in.

“He has also had some invaluable time working under Johan (Pretorius, head of performance).”

Taufete’e has won 22 caps for USA and holds the world record for the most international tries for a front rower with 20 touchdowns.

“USA sent him back to us as he was recovering from an injury and they weren’t going to take him to the Pacific Nations Cup,” Solomons said.

“He has been training with us which is a positive for us and them. It’s a win-win situation as he gets some work done with us before going back into the squad and will be good to go.

“He returns on Saturday to join up with the USA.”

Due to the World Cup, the league season will begin six weeks later than last year with Warriors kicking off with a home clash against Leicester Tigers on October 19.

Asked whether Worcester would be impacted by the World Cup, Solomons said: “Not massively.

“Ed and Joe are the only players that are going to the World Cup.

“For teams that are missing a lot of players it does make a difference to them.

“But all the clubs have good strength in depth and will be competitive.”