Premiership rugby club set to enter administration

In a statement published by the Premiership Rugby club last week (17 August) it said it had found the past couple of years “extremely challenging”, driven by the Covid-19 pandemic and rise in the cost of living.   

In an update from the club’s owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham yesterday (22 August), they said they’re working through a “number of options” with advisors which “include solutions for keeping rugby at Sixways”. 

If it enters into administration, the club - founded in 1871 - will become the first top-flight rugby club in England to do so since Richmond Rugby back in 1999. The west London outfit was impacted by financial strains of professional era playing and a reduction of the league from 14 clubs to 12 clubs. 

Worcester was issued with a winding-up petition over unpaid tax by HMRC last week. Goldring and Whittingham have said they remain in ongoing discussions with HMRC, Premiership Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. 

In a statement on Twitter, current Worcester and England international centre Ollie Lawerence said the legacy of former club owner Cecil Duckworth was “close to being tarnished” and comes at a point where people’s livelihoods are being affected. 

He added: “I believe that should be answered for. I have nothing but respect for the whole players and staff for continuing to pitch up everyday with all this uncertainty…The rumour mill will continue, but it’s above us now as to what happens, but for now we’ll crack on as a team and wait to see what unfolds.”