WORCESTER Warriors have submitted a bid to return to professional rugby.
Warriors have submitted a formal expression of interest to join the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) new Tier 2 league from the 2025/26 season.
It marks a significant step for the Sixways club following their financial collapse in October 2022. Wasps and London Irish have also applied for places in the new league next season. All three clubs went out of business during the 2022/23 campaign.
A Worcester Warriors spokesperson said: “Whilst it has clearly been a difficult period for everybody associated with the club, we are fully committed to bringing a high-quality rugby product back to Worcester.
“The support we have received from former players, the business community and the fanbase has been exceptional.”
The club also confirmed they are at an ‘advanced stage’ to bring women’s rugby back to the city and will host ‘service and legend’ matches at Sixways early next year.
The statement continues: “The facilities at Sixways have supported elite rugby since they were built, and under new management they have become the in-demand destination for conferences, events and a multitude of sporting activity.
“Naturally, we respect the process that the RFU has laid out and will update you on our new website as and when we have more information on progress.
“In the meantime, we will be hosting service and legend rugby matches from early 2025 and we are at an advanced stage with a possible return for women’s rugby in Worcester, which forms an important part of our rugby strategy going forward.”
Warriors and Junction 6 Ltd owner Christopher Holland recently submitted a planning application to redevelop the club’s Sixways home.
Junction 6 Ltd, a new ‘letting and operating of conference and exhibition centres’ business set up by Holland, the sole director, in February this year, made the application to Wychavon District Council.
The planning application shows plans to build a solar farm, hotel, two new stands, a multi-storey car park and a driving range.
