Worcester Warriors
Full name | Worcester Warriors Rugby Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Union | North Midlands RFU | ||
Founded | 1871 | ||
Disbanded | 9 February 2023 | ||
Location | Worcester, Worcestershire, England | ||
Ground(s) | Sixways Stadium (Capacity: 12,067) | ||
Most caps | Craig Gillies (288) | ||
Top scorer | Shane Drahm (726) | ||
Most tries | Nick Baxter (88)[1] | ||
2022–23 | Premiership Rugby, 13th (Relegated) | ||
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Official website | |||
warriors |
Worcester Warriors Rugby Football Club was a professional rugby union club founded in 1871 that played in the top division of the sport in England, Premiership Rugby.
In May 2023, it was announced that Atlas Group had completed the purchase of Worcester Warriors.[2] Even though the rugby club and its assets had been acquired, it was not known whether the team would play again in a championship.[3]
Overview
Using the colours gold and blue, it was based in Worcester, England. In 1975, the team moved to their most recent home, Sixways Stadium, located to the north of the city.
Placed in the eighth tier of English rugby with the advent of the English rugby union league competition, the club were able to build a strong team due to extensive financial support from their backer and chairman Cecil Duckworth, being promoted repeatedly through the league system. Worcester were first promoted to the highest tier, the Premiership in 2004, and returned there on two occasions following relegation to the RFU Championship.
Worcester won one major trophy, the
. They also won four titles in lower divisions while working their way through the English league structure.In the
The club entered administration on 26 September 2022 as a result of a tax dispute with the UK Government's tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs. The club was suspended from completing fixtures by the Rugby Football Union.[4] The contracts of all players and coaching staff were terminated on 5 October 2022 following the granting of a winding-up petition from HMRC in the High Court.[5]
After starting to manage the Warriors, James Sandford and Jim O'Toole announced that the team might not play games again after an earlier administration.
History
Foundation
The club was founded in 1871 by the Reverend Francis John Ede, with the first known game played against the Royal Artillery Rugby Club on 8 November 1871.[8] This game was played on Pitchcroft.[9] The club began playing at Bevere in Worcester in 1954 and left Bevere for Sixways in 1975 when the clubhouse was opened. When the league system was formed, the club was placed in North Midlands Division One, a level eight league.
Support
Due to extensive support from their backer Cecil Duckworth, the club were able to build a strong team, with promotion after promotion following. In 2006, extremely ambitious plans were announced for a £23 million development programme, which would see a health club with fitness centre and swimming pool, fully tarmacked park and ride area, and expanded capacity to 11,499.
Promotion to the Premiership
Worcester Warriors were promoted to the (then Zurich)
In the 2005–06 season, they reached the quarter–finals of the
In the
Established in the Premiership
For the
In 2008 Worcester pulled off one of their largest signings ever by signing
Relegation from the Premiership
After the disappointment of the
Return to the Premiership
The 2010–11 season saw Worcester win 30 out of 31 games in the
2013 onwards
Ryan couldn't keep the Warriors in the league in his first season in charge and the club was once again relegated to England's second tier. However, after releasing a number of older players the club began a rebuilding phase led by Ryan who recruited young talents unable to get game-time at big clubs.[15] Warriors achieved promotion back to the Premiership at their first attempt, beating Bristol in the playoffs thanks to a last minute Chris Pennell try and Ryan Lamb conversion.[16] The club also managed to win the B&I Cup defeating Doncaster 35–5.[17] Warriors' first season back in the Aviva Premiership during the 2015/16 campaign was a successful one following the redevelopment of the Indoor Training Centre.[18] The club also made a number of high-profile signings in Francois Hougaard, Donncha O'Callaghan and Wynand Olivier and finished the season in tenth position after winning seven games.[19] In 2016–17 the club finished 11th after a strong finish to the season under new Director of Rugby Gary Gold. Warriors scored a club record of 56 tries in the league. Gold left Worcester in early 2018 and was replaced as director of rugby by Alan Solomons who guided Worcester to another 11th-place finish in 2017–18.
The 2021–22 season saw the club finish 11th in the Premiership and win the Premiership Cup for the first time.[20]
2022 onwards: financial difficulties, administration and suspension from Premiership
In August 2022 the club was served with a
A statement was released on 13 September confirming that the club were awaiting final contract sign off by a new buyer. Despite the deadline of the following day; the deal was not signed and the RFU issued an ultimatum to the club on 15 September. They had until 12:00 BST on 16 September to confirm compliance for their round two match at Sixways or they would be suspended from the league.[22] Compliance was confirmed by midday and therefore their round 2 match took place on 18 September 2022.[23] The club received a similar ultimatum for their round 3 match on 24 September. They were able to prove compliance for the match by midday on 22 September and were then asked to prove long-term viability by 5pm on 26 September.[24] This deadline was missed and Worcester Warriors along with their women's team were suspended from all competitions.[25] It was later confirmed by the club that they were seeking administration.[26]
The club were expelled from Premiership Rugby for the season on 6 October and their results were expunged from the table. Subject to finding a buyer they will play in the RFU Championship in 2023–24.[27]
On 16 December 2022, the RFU rejected the club's plans for a return to the Championship in 2023–24 due to the prospective buyers selected by the administrators being unable to fulfill given conditions. Unless an alternative buyer is found the prospective buyers will not be able to operate the club as a professional club.[28]
Rivalries
Toward the end of their time, Worcester developed two main rivalries, with Gloucester and Rotherham.
The rivalry with Rotherham stemmed from the clubs meeting each other numerous times in The Championship between 1998 and 2003. After Worcester gained promotion to the Championship in 1998, the two clubs were constantly at the top end of the table together, battling for the solitary promotion place. In the four seasons they were both in the league, between 1998 and 2003, Rotherham finished second once and first three times, whilst Worcester finished third twice and second twice. Due to both teams consistently doing well in the league, and tensions between the two clubs being high off the pitch, the games often attracted bigger crowds and greater media interest than usual. The importance of the clashes and the rivalry that developed led to the two clubs being dubbed "The Celtic and Rangers" of their division.[29]
After two close league games in the 2001–02 season, which saw Worcester win at Sixways in September by two points, thanks to a Tim Walsh drop goal, and Rotherham win the game at Clifton Lane in January by 10 points, the rivalry peaked in the following season, 2002–03. Rotherham had won the 2001–02 Championship, losing just two games, with Worcester finishing second, having lost three games. However, Rotherham were denied promotion based on the fact that their stadium, Clifton Lane, was not at the required standard. To rectify that and meet Premiership stadium criteria in time for the 2002–03 season, Rotherham moved to Millmoor and shared the stadium with Rotherham United FC.
The first meeting between the two teams in the 2002–03 campaign was at Millmoor on 23 November. Despite being fairly early in the season, a big five-point win for Rotherham, in front of over 4,000 fans, including a sizeable away following from Worcester, was a huge step in Rotherham winning the league and gaining promotion. That encounter was again a very heated and physical battle. Worcester were well on top during the first half and went into the interval 13–6 ahead, thanks to a Chris Garrard try and some excellent game management from fly half Tim Walsh. However, the second half was a completely different affair, with Worcester's Chris Garrard sent off for a dangerous tackle on Jacob Raulini, and Steve Caine sin binned. Rotherham, spurred on by their biggest and most vociferous crowd of the season, scored 32 points, including four tries, and conceded none, to complete a demolition of Worcester.[30]
Despite the big win for Rotherham at Millmoor, Worcester only lost one game until the two teams met again at Sixways in April, winning 12 league games and losing only away to Orrell. That ensured they kept in contact with Rotherham at the top of the table. The game at Sixways was the third-last game of the season and, with the sides neck and neck in the league, the winner would almost certainly gain a place in the Premiership. Worcester had gone 20 games and 18 months since their last home loss, which was to Rotherham in September 2001.[31] The game was the first Championship match to be broadcast live on Sky Sports and it also saw the record attendance for a Championship game, with temporary stands constructed to ensure that 5,700 fans could watch. Rotherham brought a 1,000-strong contingent, almost all of whom were seated in the North Stand at Sixways, in what was virtual segregation. The first half of the game was extremely tense, with Rotherham leading 9–3 at the break. However, the second half saw Rotherham score two tries in 10 minutes which put the game out of Worcester's reach. Rotherham went on to win the game 21–9, which sparked wild celebrations and a pitch invasion from the Rotherham fans.[29]
Rotherham were often considered as Worcester's rivals by fans who watched Worcester before 2004. However, because Worcester's average attendances more than doubled after that, a large percentage of the Worcester fan base, many of them newer supporters, saw Gloucester as Worcester's main rival. That was predominantly because of playing them regularly since gaining promotion to the Premiership in 2004, the geographical closeness of the two cities, and various media sources citing the game as a derby.[32]
Season summaries
Premiership | Domestic Cup | European Cup | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Competition | Final Position | Points | Play-Offs | Competition | Performance | Competition | Performance |
1987–88 | Midlands 2 West
|
8th | 8 | N/A | John Player Cup | Did not play | No competition | N/A |
1988–89 | Midlands 2 West
|
11th (R) | 3 | N/A | Pilkington Cup | Did not play | ||
1989–90 | North Midlands 1 | 1st (P) | 16 | N/A | Pilkington Cup | Did not play | ||
1990–91 | Midlands 2 West
|
5th | 10 | N/A | Pilkington Cup | Did not play | ||
1991–92 | Midlands 2 West
|
3rd | 14 | N/A | Pilkington Cup | Did not play | ||
1992–93 | Midlands 2[a]
|
2nd (P) | 18 | N/A | Pilkington Cup | 2nd round | ||
1993–94 | Midlands 1
|
2nd | 16 | N/A | Pilkington Cup | Did not play | ||
1994–95 | Midlands 1
|
1st (P) | 23 | N/A | Pilkington Cup | Did not play | ||
1995–96 | Courage Division 5 North | 2nd (P) | 18 | N/A | Pilkington Cup | 4th round | No English teams | N/A |
1996–97 | Courage Division 4 North | 1st (P) | 49 | N/A | Pilkington Cup | 2nd round | Not qualified | N/A |
1997–98 | National League 1 | 1st (P) | 48 | N/A | Tetley's Bitter Cup | 5th round | ||
1998–99 | Allied Dunbar Premiership 2 | 3rd | 34 | N/A | Tetley's Bitter Cup | 4th round | No English teams | N/A |
C&G Cup | 1st round | |||||||
1999–00 | Allied Dunbar Premiership 2 | 3rd | 38 | N/A | Tetley's Bitter Cup | 4th round | Not qualified | N/A |
2000–01 | National Division 1 | 2nd | 112 | N/A | Tetley's Bitter Cup | 5th round | ||
2001–02 | National Division 1 | 2nd | 106 | N/A | Powergen Cup | 5th round | ||
2002–03 | National Division 1 | 2nd | 114 | N/A | Powergen Cup | 6th round | ||
Powergen Shield
|
Semi-final | |||||||
2003–04 | National Division 1 | 1st (P) | 125 | N/A | Powergen Cup | 5th round | ||
2004–05 | Zurich Premiership | 9th | 42 | – | Powergen Cup | 6th round | European Shield | Runners-up |
2005–06 | Guinness Premiership | 8th | 47 | – | Powergen Cup
|
4th in pool | Challenge Cup | Semi-final |
2006–07 | Guinness Premiership | 11th | 34 | – | EDF Energy Cup | 2nd in pool | Challenge Cup | 2nd in pool |
2007–08 | Guinness Premiership | 10th | 36 | – | EDF Energy Cup | 4th in pool | Challenge Cup | Runners-up |
2008–09 | Guinness Premiership | 11th | 34 | – | EDF Energy Cup | 4th in pool | Challenge Cup | Semi-final |
2009–10 | Guinness Premiership | 12th (R) | 28 | – | LV= Cup | 4th in pool | Challenge Cup | 3rd in pool |
2010–11 | RFU Championship | 1st (P) | 101 | Champions | British and Irish Cup | Semi-final | Not qualified | N/A |
2011–12 | Aviva Premiership | 10th | 36 | – | LV= Cup | 3rd in pool | Challenge Cup | 2nd in pool |
2012–13 | Aviva Premiership | 11th | 33 | – | LV= Cup | 4th in pool | Challenge Cup | 2nd in pool |
2013–14 | Aviva Premiership | 12th (R) | 16 | – | LV= Cup | 4th in pool | Challenge Cup | 4th in pool |
2014–15 | RFU Championship | 2nd (P) | 97 | Champions | British and Irish Cup | Champions | Not qualified | N/A |
2015–16 | Aviva Premiership | 10th | 35 | – | No competition | N/A | Challenge Cup | 4th in pool |
2016–17 | Aviva Premiership | 11th | 33 | – | Anglo-Welsh Cup | 4th in pool | Challenge Cup | 3rd in pool |
2017–18 | Aviva Premiership | 11th | 36 | – | Anglo-Welsh Cup | 2nd in pool | Challenge Cup | 3rd in pool |
2018–19 | Gallagher Premiership | 10th | 46 | – | Premiership Cup | Semi-final | Challenge Cup | Quarter-final |
2019–20 | Gallagher Premiership | 9th | 42 | – | Premiership Cup | 4th in pool | Challenge Cup | 3rd in pool |
2020–21 | Gallagher Premiership | 12th[b] | 27 | – | No Competition | – | Challenge Cup | 11th in pool |
2021–22 | Gallagher Premiership | 11th | 35 | – | Premiership Cup | Champions | Challenge Cup
|
Round of 16 |
Gold background denotes champions
Silver background denotes runners-up
Pink background denotes relegated
* After dropping into the competition from the
Club honours
Worcester Warriors
- Premiership Rugby Cup
- Champions: (1) 2021–22
- RFU Championship
- National League 1
- Champions: (1) 1997–98
- National League 2 North
- Champions: (1) 1996–97
- Midlands Premier
- Champions: (1) 1994–95
- Midlands 2 West
- Champions: (1) 1992–93
- North Midlands 1
- Champions: (1) 1989–90
- European Challenge Cup
- Runners-up: (1) 2007–08
- European Shield
- Runners-up: (1) 2004–05
- British and Irish Cup
- Champions: (1) 2014–15
- North Midlands Cup
- Champions: (3) 1977–78, 1995–96, 1997–98
- Runners-up: (3) 1976–77, 1993–94, 1996–97
- Powerline Floodlit Cup
- Champions: (1) 1997–98
Worcester Cavaliers
- Premiership Rugby Shield
- Runners-up: (1) 2014–15
Notable players
Lions Tourists
The following Worcester Warriors players have been selected for the Lions tours while at the club:
Rugby World Cup
The following are players who have represented their countries at the World Cup, whilst playing for Worcester:
Tournament | Number of players | Players selected |
---|---|---|
1999 | 1 | Sililo Martens |
2003 | 2 | Ben Hinshelwood , Sateki Tuipulotu |
2007 | 4 | Chris Horsman , Aisea Havili, Aleki Lutui , Loki Crichton |
2011 | 2 | Aleki Lutui , Ravai Fatiaki |
2015 | 1 | Tevita Cavubati |
2019 | 2 |
Sponsors
The club's kit is made by sports manufacturer O'Neills, who they signed with in 2020 to produce home and away strips for Premiership Rugby.[33] Their main shirt sponsor is Adam Hewitt Ltd.[34] In 2019, the club signed a multi-year deal with Aramis Rugby to supply digital scrum machines.[35]
Charitable Causes
Acorns Children's Hospice has been the official charity partner of Warriors since the facility opened in March 2005. The club have raised in excess of £200,000 to assist the charity since its inception and this season hooker Niall Annett is the charity's Player Ambassador.
Cecil Duckworth is a trustee of the Wooden Spoon, the charity of British rugby, supporting disadvantaged children. In January 2007, Worcester opened a "Playing for Success" centre, supported by Spoon.
Notes
- Midlands 2 Westcombined into a single division called Midlands 2.
- ^ Despite finishing bottom of the table Warriors were reprieved of relegation due to a moratorium.
References
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2020) |
- ^ "Worcester Statistics (to 2007)" (PDF). RFU.com. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
- ^ "STATEMENT: Takeover of Worcester Warriors complete". Ruck. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors Sale Saga Concludes". Sport Industry Group. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ "Administrators begin task of finding a buyer for Worcester Warriors". The Independent. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ "Worcester player and staff contracts terminated after high court ruling | Worcester | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Worcester Warriors owners withdraw proposal to play in Championship in 2023–24". BBC Sport. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors are no more as Atlas reveal new plans". Worcester News. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors History". Talk Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
- ^ Not Just a Racecourse Judd Doughty Worcestershire Life June 2010 p42
- ^ "Warriors suffer European cup final misery". Warriors.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
- ^ "Warriors sign superstar Latham". Warriors.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors 25–20 Cornish Pirates (agg 46–32)". BBC Sport. BBC News. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ Guest, Tom (19 August 2011). "Plans could see Hilton hotel built in city". Worcester News. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors: Dean Ryan named director of rugby". BBC Sport. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
- ^ "Ryan aware of pitfalls". The Independent.
- ^ "Warriors 59–58 Bristol". BBC Sport. BBC Sport.
- ^ "Warriors win B&I Cup". BBC Sport. BBC Sport.
- ^ "Sixways set for revamp". Worcester News. Worcester News.
- ^ "Table 2015/16". Aviva Premierhsip. Aviva Premierhsip.
- ^ "Premiership Rugby Cup Final: Worcester win after dramatic extra time deadlock to claim first major trophy". Sky Sports. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors hit with winding up petition by HMRC". Worcester News. 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors | Club statement". warriors.co.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors | Games on! RFU give all-clear for Sixways double bill". warriors.co.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors | RFU statement". warriors.co.uk. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ "Worcester suspended from competition after owners miss RFU deadline | Rugby union | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Club Statement on Administration". Worcester Warriors. 26 September 2022.
- ^ Skippers, David (6 October 2022). "Premiership: Worcester suspended for rest of the season and relegated". PlanetRugby. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ "Worcester rescue bid rejected by RFU but Wasps takeover approved | Worcester | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Rotherham take it all". The Guardian. 13 April 2003. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
- ^ "Rotherham Titans 38 – 13 Worcester Warriors". Worcester Warriors. 23 November 2002.
- ^ "Results & Fixtures: Comprehensive 2002–03". Worcester Warriors.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors call up Blair Cowan for tonight's big Gloucester derby". Worcester News. 22 February 2013.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors | Warriors sign major new kit deal with O'Neills". warriors.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors | Adam Hewitt Ltd unveiled as Warriors' Main Partner". warriors.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ "Warriors appoint Aramis as scrum machine supplier" (Press release). Worcester Warriors. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2020.