Worcester Warriors name and Championship hopes gone

Worcester Warriors have withdrawn their application process to compete in the Championship for the 2023/24 season, with new owners Atlas also confirming the name will no longer be used as the club undergoes a rebrand.

The new club will partner Stourbridge RFC who will play at Sixways under the new name ‘Sixways Rugby’ in the National League 2 West, the fourth tier of men’s rugby in England.

Director of Atlas and former Chief Executive of Worcester Warriors, Jim O’Toole, stated that the plan for the club is to reach the Championship by 2026 after saying the club could not agree to RFU conditions and commercial restrictions.

“There were a number of key clauses in the contract that we couldn’t sign,” O’Toole stated on BBC Hereford & Worcester.

Worcester had been given until February 14^th to meet the Rugby Football Union’s criteria to play in England’s second division.

“The sad fact of life is that the Worcester Warriors brand and the Worcester Warriors business is gone,” he added.

“We know this will be an emotional crossroads for so many.

“But this is the start of a new journey and we believe the time to begin a new era starts here.”

O’Toole also promised significant investment into the club over the coming seasons to get them into the Championship.

“In the coming weeks we will be speaking to everybody and we will again explain the plans for the future. We hope to keep fans up to date at all times, we will be transparent,” he added.

“We will be producing a range of initiatives to bring back fans to Sixways but also to invite new supporters along with us on this journey.”

Further plans for the Sixways site were revealed with a hotel, medical centre and a conference and events facility all set to be built. 

Written by Cam Stephens

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