Harlequins hooker Chris Brooker is leaving the Stoop to join Aviva Premiership rivals Worcester Warriors.

The 26-year-old former has spent six years with Quins, making 84 appearances, but a knee injury picked up playing against Newcastle Falcons in March 2012 halted a run of form that had seen Brooker break into the senior England squad.

Brooker has not appeared in a Quins first team shirt since then as his recovery and rehabilitation kept him in the treatment room.

Director of rugby Conor O’Shea said: “Chris has shown great determination to get back from his injury.

"He told me an opportunity had arisen in Worcester and, given our resources at hooker – with the development of Rob Buchanan alongside Joe Gray and Dave Ward - the chance of a two-year deal for Chris at Worcester was something we owed him and gave him permission to explore.

“Those discussions concluded satisfactorily, and he officially leaves next week. He will be missed on and off the pitch.”