FORMER South Africa international Wynand Olivier hopes young guns Ollie Lawrence and Will Butler will “stick around” at Worcester Warriors for “as long as possible”.

The 35-year-old centre has been impressed with the burgeoning ability of the two rising stars and believes the midfield duo both have got bright futures ahead of them.

Butler made a name for himself last season when he captained Warriors in the Anglo-Welsh Cup and marked his first Premiership start with two tries in the defeat at Northampton Saints in May.

Elbow surgery resulted in the 20-year-old missing the start of Worcester's season while his academy colleague Lawrence has stepped up to the plate.

Lawrence burst onto the scene last term with a try-scoring debut for Warriors and several stunning showings for Worcester Cavaliers.

The 19-year-old made his Premiership bow in Worcester’s loss at Exeter Chiefs in September and produced a man-of-the-match display in the European Challenge Cup victory over Stade Francais in Paris last month.

“Ollie is still very young so he just needs to keep himself grounded and keep working hard,” Olivier said.

“He has got the ability to offload and beat anyone one-on-one.

“Obviously he needs to be managed in the right way, not pushed too hard but also get opportunities.

“He is an exciting one for the future and showed that against Stade Francais.

“Will is another who is an outstanding talent and proved that against Northampton last year.

“The club just need to develop these boys, help them where they can and hopefully they will stick around at Worcester for as long as possible.”

Olivier has won 38 caps for South Africa and was part of the World Cup-winning Springboks side in 2007.

The ex-Bulls and Montpellier ace is keen to pass on his vast experience to Lawrence and Butler.

“I have been fortunate enough to play against some of the best in the world and learn different skills,” Olivier said.

“But the basic always stay the same.

“None of us are the same so what works for me might not work for Ollie and Will.

“But you can still pick up flaws so if I can help them and push them hard to do even better that would be a job well done for me.”

Olivier, whose contract expires next summer, has come back from an 11-month injury lay-off but faces competition in the centres with Lawrence and Butler looking to establish themselves in the first team.

“I quite like to push the youngsters as they push me a lot too,” Olivier added.

“I think we bring good things out of one another.

“We are all different players so everyone brings something different to the side.

“At the end of the day it is about the team and how we can help one another to succeed and be the best we can be.

“Hopefully some of the youngsters will get the opportunity to play for England in the near future.”