WORCESTER Warriors ace Ben Te’o has been given an extended break after starring in a “mentally draining” British and Irish Lions tour.

Director of rugby Gary Gold hailed Te’o’s “outstanding” contribution in helping the Lions share the three-Test series with New Zealand.

The England international landed in Heathrow with the rest of the touring party on Thursday, July 13.

But while his Warriors teammates have hit the ground in training ahead of the new season, Gold says he has allowed 30-year-old Te’o further time to recover.

“We are going to give him another two weeks off,” Gold said.

“I don’t think fitness is going to be too much of an issue with Ben, but I can only imagine what that tour must have taken out of him. It must have been mentally draining.

“He is away with his family at the moment and he gets back to the UK this week, but then he has got another week off as I think he is going to Europe for a holiday.”

Te’o scored four tries in 12 appearances for Warriors in the 2016/17 campaign after joining from Leinster last summer.

“For us, it is really important that he does get away and has a break because we want him to come back hungry,” Gold continued.

“But he will definitely be back for the start of the season.”

Te’o became the first Warriors player to be selected by the Lions and did not take long before he made his mark.

The centre received rave reviews, including from Lions head coach Warren Gatland, for his displays against New Zealand Provincial Barbarians, Crusaders and Maori All Blacks as he earned a starting place in the opening Test squad.

Despite impressing in the 30-15 defeat to the All Blacks, notably flawing Sonny Bill Williams with a thumping tackle, Te’o was dropped as Gatland gave Johnny Sexton the number 10 jersey and moved Owen Farrell to inside centre.

The ex-rugby league player watched from the bench as Lions won the second Test 24-21 in Wellington.

But Te’o helped his side claim a 15-15 in the series decider as he came on in the second half at Eden Park.

Te’o played 308 minutes during the tour, gaining 226 metres, making 48 carries, beating 14 defenders and completing 27 tackles.

But Gold said he was not surprised to see “the big-match player” rise to the occasion after witnessing some of his performances for Warriors last term.

“I thought he was outstanding for the Lions,” Gold said.

“Quite a few guys who have worked with him in the past say he is a big-match player and you could definitely see that.

“You saw that for us as well.

“When there were big games and they mattered a lot to the club, like against Bath and against Bristol, he really stepped up to the plate.

“He was very good against Newcastle away from home as well.

“He is a class act and I am very happy for him that he has been recognised at the level he has been playing at.”