WORCESTER Warriors plan to open talks with “ambitious” and “extremely talented” head coach Rory Duncan over extending his contract.

But co-owner Colin Goldring said there have been no conversations over Duncan “succeeding” veteran director of rugby Alan Solomons in the future.

Duncan joined Warriors from Cheetahs last summer after signing a deal that is due to expire at the end of the coming season.

In April, Solomons rubbished rumours linking Duncan with a move back to Cheetahs, insisting there was “no substance in that whatsoever”.

However speculation over a potential return to his native country has not gone away with reports in South Africa last month suggesting Duncan could be in line to take the vacant head coach role at Southern Kings.

The 41-year-old has previously spoken of his desire to be at Worcester for the longrun.

And Warriors will be keen to hang onto Duncan who helped them achieve a club record-equalling seven Gallagher Premiership wins in his first season.

Asked whether Duncan had been offered a new deal, Goldring said: “We haven’t made a decision on Rory yet so there will be conversations.

“When that’s done, assuming everyone agrees with that situation, we will make an announcement about it.”

Speaking last year, the thenchairman Bill Bolsover said he saw Duncan as “being able to take over” Solomons whose previous deal finished in the summer of 2020.

But Solomons who turns 69 later this month has recently put pen to paper on a new contract that runs out at the end of the 2021-22 campaign.

Should Solomons, who took the reins in December 2017, remain in charge until then he would become Warriors’ longest serving boss since the late John Brain who served between 2002 and 2007.

Duncan previously worked under Solomons when he was coach at Eastern Province Kings and Goldring has been impressed with Duncan since he and Jason Whittingham joined the club’s board last October.

“I think Rory is an extremely talented, dedicated and hardworking individual with a lot of ambition,” Goldring said.

“There has not been a conversation about Rory succeeding Alan.

“We have extended Alan’s contract and he is equally ambitious and very knowledgeable.

“It has been confirmed Alan’s contract is to be extended, we have not extended Rory’s contract yet.

“I expect there will be discussions with Rory and we will have a long-term plan for and do whatever is right by the club.

“It may well be Rory (that replaces Solomons), it might be someone else.

“I am quite happy that Rory is a very hardworking individual and a good guy, we will have that conversation at an appropriate time.

“We have a good relationship with all of the coaching team, there are no bad eggs.

“We will look at synergies, what the right fit is for the club, make that decision and announce it at the appropriate time.”