And he revealed that watching Townsend guide Glasgow Warriors to the brink of the RaboDirect PRO12 final following spells in various countries prompted his move to England.
He said: "While I was out in France at the World Under-20 championships I had honest and open discussions with both Mark Dodson (SRU chief executive) and I also spoke with Scott Johnson (national coach/director of rugby).
"They threw everything at me so far as staying was concerned.
"However, I wanted to test myself in a different environment mindful of how Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend's coaching career is flourishing on the back of playing spells in various countries.
"It has been a brutal decision and it will be tough meeting with Accies this week to thank them for the enormous role they have played in my development.
"But I've been in Scotland 12 years counting my time at Edinburgh Rugby and I feel I can learn at a much faster pace by seeing how (Worcester director of rugby) Dean Ryan and his assistants Shane Howarth and Carl Hogg do things at Worcester where I will be in charge of defence, an aspect of the game I'm passionate about."
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