WORCESTER Warriors star Chris Pennell reckons “some of my best rugby is yet to come” as he looks ahead to two more years at his boyhood club.

The Worcester-born full-back who turns 32 in April admitted he was guilty of putting himself “under a bit too much pressure” when he was younger.

But after racking up more than 200 appearances for the club Pennell said he was now relishing every minute he got on the pitch and felt his enjoyment for rugby was benefiting his game.

“I feel like I am playing well and making some really positive contributions for the team at the minute,” Pennell said.

“I am enjoying myself which I maybe didn’t do early on in my career.

“I probably put myself under a bit too much pressure.

“I am now having fun.

“I feel like I am improving and coupled with having a bit more nous around the game now I genuinely feel like some of my best rugby is yet to come which is quite exciting.”

Pennell is the top career points scorer in the current squad with almost 400 including 39 tries, with 10 of them coming in the 2014-15 Championship-winning campaign.

“I am in a position where I am enjoying what I do and I think that’s so important,” Pennell continued.

“As a younger man I lost sight of that at times and circumstances can dictate that as well.

“You put yourself under an awful lot of pressure.

“We have got to give absolutely everything we can but life is also about enjoyment.

“I am relishing every minute out on that pitch.”

Pennell who made his debut in 2007 made his 214th Warriors outing in Saturday’s 21-19 home victory over Bath in the Gallagher Premiership.

Only two players have made more appearances for Worcester than him with legendary prop Tony Windo finishing on 222 and record-holder Craig Gillies on 288.

On his chances of beating Gillies’ tally, Pennell said: “There is a lot of rugby to be played to get to that. The main thing I want to do is concentrate on playing well for the boys. If I am lucky enough to be fit and healthy and playing well enough to justify my place in the team then you never know.

“But it is some record by Craig.

“Fingers crossed I will get close one day but we will see.

“I will keep working hard towards it, that’s for sure.”

Pennell who has penned a new two-year contract said he also “did not feel anywhere near ready” to hang up his boots.

“As long as I am loving what I am doing which I am and my body is capable of playing the type of game I want to play then retirement is not really featuring in my thought process in the near future,” he added.