Premiership: Worcester Warriors suspended for rest of the season and relegated
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) have confirmed that Worcester Warriors have been suspended from the Premiership and Premiership Rugby Cup for the remainder of the 2022/23 season.
There were doubts over Worcester’s future participation in the Premiership after the club’s partial liquidation on Wednesday, with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) pursuing unpaid tax in the region of £6million.
Suspension confirmed
“Following a meeting of the RFU’s Club Financial Viability Group today, the RFU can confirm the suspension of Worcester Warriors from the Gallagher Premiership and Premiership Rugby Cup for the remainder of the 2022-23 season,” a statement from the governing body read on Thursday evening.
Wednesday’s ruling gave an instruction that that WRFC Players Ltd, a subsidiary of WRFC Trading Ltd through which players and some staff are paid, be wound up. A winding-up petition against WRFC Trading Ltd, which remains in administration, has been suspended.
Worcester club captain Ted Hill, Ollie Lawrence, Fergus Lee-Warner and Valeriy Morozov had already left the club to join Bath on loan. After the latest ruling, the club’s other players had their contracts terminated, along with members of staff, which resulted in British and Irish Lions wing Duhan van der Merwe returning to his former club, Edinburgh.
Administrators Begbies Traynor are looking for a buyer for WRFC Trading Ltd and are negotiating with two consortiums.
The RFU said the decision to suspend Worcester would allow “space and time” to prioritise the work to secure a deal for the long-term future of the club.
The governing body also revealed that the progress made by the administrators, including relating to the land around Sixways Stadium was encouraging.
“It has taken the decision to suspend the team in order to prioritise the space and time to work with Begbies Traynor to support the prospect of securing a deal with the right investor, giving the club the best chance for a long-term sustainable future,” the RFU’s statement continued.
“As the club no longer has staff and players on contract and with many seeking alternative employment, the decision has been made to focus on how the club can be viable over the long term.
“This is a complex situation and any potential investors and management will require due diligence and approvals from the RFU and PRL (Premiership Rugby).
“A condition of any potential deal will include a requirement for the payment of all rugby creditors including any outstanding salaries owed to staff, players and coaches.
“The administrators are in discussions with several potential investors and it is expected they will also be planning for long-term sustainability.”
Championship beckons if investors are secured
If the administrators manage to secure investors, Worcester will restart in the Championship for the 2023/24 season but they will be able to appeal the RFU’s decision if they can show there was ‘no fault insolvency’.
The RFU said it is also working with the administrators and a potential investor to try to find a way to keep the University of Worcester Warriors women’s team in the Allianz Premier 15s for the rest of the current season.
“However, given the club’s previously announced suspension, we can confirm that University of Worcester Warriors women’s game in the Allianz Cup against DMP Sharks on Saturday October 15 will not go ahead. An update on the position of future games will be given in due course,” the governing body added.
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