Lamb out to justify Dean Ryan's faith

Ryan Lamb has admitted he must vindicate new boss Dean Ryan's calculated gamble to end his Leicester Tigers limbo with a three-year Worcester deal.

Lamb joined Worcester on Monday, after Leicester released the fly-half and wrote off the remaining 16 months of his Welford Road contract.

The 27-year-old revealed regrets over breaking his hand while fighting in Aviva Premiership A League action in September, an incident that ultimately cost him his Tigers career.

After just seven Leicester appearances this term, Lamb is acutely aware it is time to end his nomadic existence.

"Definitely I don't want to waste this now," Lamb told Press Association Sport.

"That's why I signed for three years: I wanted to be in this for the long haul and I didn't want it to be a quick fix for either party.

"The vision Dean has, I knew it was impressive, so that's why I asked for a longer deal and he gave it to me.

"I really want to repay that faith.

"It's a nice situation to be in, to come in knowing your future's secure, but that will only stay that way if I play well.

"I appreciate the backing put in me here, and I really want to repay it."

Lamb was sent off against home town club Gloucester and banned for a week after scuffling with front-rower Koree Britton in the second-string clash at Welford Road on September 30.

Furious Leicester boss Richard Cockerill admitted Lamb was in the "dog house" for fracturing his hand, ruling him out of covering for England playmaker Toby Flood during the autumn internationals.

Welsh youngster Owen Williams flourished in Lamb's six-week absence, leaving the ex-Gloucester star out in the cold.

Reunited with his former Gloucester boss Ryan, now Worcester's rugby director, Lamb admitted the onus is firmly on him to make a success of his fifth Premiership home.

"I broke my hand at Leicester and didn't really get a look in after that," said Lamb.

"Owen Williams came in and played well and he's a young lad, but obviously Leicester weren't very happy with me.

"They are looking to the future with Owen which I respect after everything, I wish him all the best.

"Leicester were kind enough to let me go when I asked as well, and I do appreciate that.

"Yes there are regrets, of course, I was disappointed when it came about and I didn't get a chance for quite a while.

"I hadn't played a lot of rugby and then when I should have had chances I was out again.

"I don't just want to come here and go through the motions. I want to add something to this squad if I can and repay the faith Dean's put into me.

"It's a big challenge, we're in a little bit of a hole but with the quality we've got I'm sure we can drag ourselves out of it. That's what we want to do and hopefully we can come good.

"I haven't played consistently since my first year at Northampton, and that's a year and a half back now.

"The last time I did I got back into the England Saxons side, and found a rich vein of form.

"If I can get a few games under my belt and get settled, hopefully I can find my form again.

"Dean is one of the best coaches I've played under, he's very articulate and his analysis is second to none."

©PA