Scottish Rugby Union favourites to buy Worcester Warriors - reports

The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) are now favourites to buy the financially challenged Worcester Warriors – according to reports.

The Premiership outfit has well documented financial difficulties and has been on the market for several months. Over the weekend the Rugby Paper reported that deal on the table from the previous favourite to buy the club – businessman Jed McCrory – has fallen through.

The Worcester News is reporting that the SRU, who previously expressed an interest in investing in the club, has now emerged as favourite to take over.

The move would mean that the SRU would have access to the Aviva Premiership as an option for players to play outside of Scotland but remain under control of the union, effectively giving them a third fully professional team.

The SRU are in an unprecedented financial position, having posted record revenues in the 2016/17 season. The union posted revenues of over £50 million for the first time in its history. In contrast, Worcester Warriors are struggling on and off the pitch.

In early November Worcester Warriors released a statement in response to media reports that suggested the club’s location might be changed if it were to be sold.

“The Warriors Board can confirm that Sixways Holdings Limited would not consider selling the Club to investors who would move it away from Worcester.

“Despite reports in the media, Sixways Holdings Limited is clear in its intentions to ensure new investors keep the Club at its Sixways base.

“A condition of any sale would state that the Club must remain in Worcester.”

Warriors Chairman Bill Bolsover said: “Last week I was able to reassure supporters that it was highly unlikely that a new owner would relocate the Club.

“I can now confirm that selling the Club to investors who might want to move it away from Worcester is not something that Sixways Holdings Limited would consider.

“The West Midlands is the prime location for the Club to continue to engage and grow what is already a strong support-base in the area.

“Sixways Holdings Limited has invested significantly in the current facilities and will not risk the future stability of the Club by allowing it to be moved to another part of the country.”