PROP Callum Black hopes home-grown hero Jonny Arr will prolong his Worcester Warriors career and keep “gelling the squad together”.

Scrum-half Arr, 30, is one of only four players in Warriors’ history to have made more than 200 appearances but faces an uncertain future with his current contract set to expire this summer.

Like the long-serving number nine Black came through the club’s academy but while he chose to leave in 2011 to join Ulster Worcester-born duo Arr and Chris Pennell stayed put.

Black who returned to Warriors ahead of this season said Pennell and Arr had become “great role models” for young players to look up to and had helped many new recruits settle into life at Sixways.

“It is great to have home-grown players playing for their local side,” Black said.

“I think younger players look up to guys like Penns and see that if you do your job you can have a really good career at Warriors.

“There are a lot more local lads coming through the academy now and they can see what Penns has been here and done and will want to emulate him.

“I have played with Jonny for a long time and it’s the same case with him as he has been here all the way through from the minis and juniors to now.

“He is a great lad.”

Black also believes Arr has shown his “class” this season having played a key role in Warriors’ comeback wins over Ospreys and Stade Francais to seal a home quarter-final in the European Challenge Cup.

“Jonny runs things really well which is what you need as a nine,” said the 32-year-old.

“He has put in a good performances in the past couple of weeks so I think he will be looking to build on that and just do what he always does.”

Full-back Pennell, 31, and Redditch-born back rower Matt Cox, 30, have both been rewarded with new two-year contracts.

The two former academy stars are among 14 members of the current squad that have committed their futures to the club and Black who has another season left on his contract now hopes Arr will join the list of players that have re-signed in the past two months.

“We have got a great squad at the moment so the more people we can keep together moving into next season the better,” Black said.

“You want people who have been here for that long they know the ins and outs and the culture of the club.

“Penns and Jonny help new people coming into the squad because they have been here for a long time.

“They know the system and help to gel the squad together really easily.”

Black who has played 16 games for the club this season said he was also enjoying his time at Warriors.

“I have loved being back,” Black said.

“A few things have changed around the place but there are still a few old boys that remind me of when I was here previously like Penns, Jonny and Coxy.

“This is my home club and it is great to play in front of this crowd and be back around family.

“I feel that I have progressed as a player and am trying to really help Warriors take that next step, which is to fight in that top half of the table and play knockout rugby in Europe.”