'Incredibly sad': Sanderson tweets support for Worcester fundraiser

Ex-England back-rower Pat Sanderson has tweeted his support for an online fund-raising initiative set up to raise money for people at Worcester Warriors who might not be paid this month following the recent revelations about the club’s stark financial crisis.

The Gallagher Premiership club was last week issued with a winding-up petition over an unpaid tax bill reported to be in excess of £6million, generating fears that Worcester will go into administration before their 2022/23 league campaign commences on September 10.

The revelation has created huge unease just weeks out from the start of the new Premiership season and England midfielder Ollie Lawrence took to social media to say his piece on Monday about the financial crisis.

Now Sanderson, the 16-cap Test level forward who made more than 100 appearances during his six seasons at Sixways, has joined in the Worcester debate after seeing a tweet from Stu Pickering, the head of Olympic performance support at the English Institute of Sport.

Pickering posted: “The more I sit and stew on the situation at Worcester the angrier I am getting, so I’ve decided to do something. I want to raise enough money for people at Sixways that are unlikely to be paid this month and need the help.”

Incredibly sad to see what is unfolding at Worcester but behind the headlines that we all read are a great group of people who have given so much to the club over the years. Good man @PickeringStu for doing something about it. https://t.co/RRfIpyQsi2

— Pat Sanderson (@SandersonPat) August 23, 2022

This prompted a response from Sanderson, the older brother of current Sale boss Alex. “Incredibly sad to see what is unfolding at Worcester but behind the headlines that we all read are a great group of people who have given so much to the club over the years. Good man Stu Pickering for doing something about it.”

Sanderson, the soon-to-be 45-year-old who now works in the City, was at Sale when he made his 1998 England breakthrough versus the All Blacks but he went on to win ten of his 16 Test caps after joining Worcester from Harlequins in 2004.