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The future of Worcester hangs by a thread after a company which holds the club’s player contracts was wound up, effectively leaving the stricken Gallagher Premiership club with no players. Here, the PA news agency looks at the Warriors’ plight.
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Why are Worcester in trouble?
The Warriors are saddled with more than £25million of debt. Players and staff at the Sixways club had not received their full wages, with the lack of funds leading to major operational shortcomings. Owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring insisted that a deal was close to being completed with new buyers, but no evidence of that deal has yet been produced.
What is the latest development?
On Wednesday, Judge Nicholas Briggs made an order winding up WRFC Players Ltd at an Insolvency & Companies Court hearing. Worcester had been suspended from all competitions in September after they failed to meet a Rugby Football Union deadline requesting proof of insurance cover and funding for the club’s monthly payroll. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport also confirmed the club had been placed into administration.
What does that mean for the club?
The latest development is expected to initiate an exodus of players from Sixways as Warriors players and staff will have their contracts terminated. “This is the darkest day for English rugby,” Worcester rugby director Steve Diamond wrote on Twitter. “We thought we could turn the tanker around but it’s ended up like the Titanic, sadly. The ship has sunk, the captains are nowhere to be seen. The RFU/PRL band played in the background. There are a privileged few who have jobs.”
What happens next?
Scotland winger Duhan van der Merwe has already been signed by Edinburgh. Meanwhile, the RFU said on Wednesday that it will continue to speak to the administrators, and potential buyers, during the course of the next 24 hours to assess the possibility of a buyer taking over in time for the team to participate in the Gallagher Premiership in 2022/23.
Why are so many Premiership clubs struggling?
The pandemic’s impact cannot be ignored, but Worcester cannot hide behind covid as a catch-all excuse. Rising wages for top players and coaches, despite salary-cap curbs, a constant contest to lure in punters and continued battles to boost match excitement are all major factors.
So where does English club rugby go from here?
Sustainability will be a major watchword for the coming weeks and months. The authorities will do everything to avoid Worcester going to the wall, but the wider argument over the best long-term plan for the Premiership will rage on.
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Yet another example of how the Northern Hem unions cocked up when the game turned pro. If the Northern Hem had set out a contract system re NZ, players would be contracted to the union, not the club. This for one would have got rid of the club v country scenario!