AN AMBITIOUS bid to grow women’s rugby in Worcester has been unveiled with a landmark multi-year partnership between Worcester Warriors and the University of Worcester
Warriors Women will be renamed the University of Worcester Warriors ahead of the 2022/23 Allianz Premier 15s campaign in a collaboration to help grow women’s rugby at the club and inspire more women to take up studies at the University alongside elite rugby.
The University’s name and logo will feature on the front and back of the women’s home and away playing shirts, while the new team name ‘University of Worcester Warriors’ and the Warriors logo will feature on the front. The University’s branding will also be prominent throughout Sixways Stadium via LED boards and interview backdrops.
In addition, the partnership will give female students the opportunity to combine their academic life with playing rugby in an elite environment at Sixways Stadium through a number of scholarships and business placements.
Warriors and the University will combine to increase opportunities for women and girls at all levels to participate in sport and maximise their potential.
The University will also draw upon its experiences of working with its own female sport franchises in women’s basketball, women’s wheelchair basketball and Severn Stars netball to contribute towards the current and ongoing success of Warriors’ elite and development programmes for women.
University of Worcester Warriors Director of Rugby, Jo Yapp attended the University where she undertook an undergraduate degree, before embarking on a PGCE there.
“The women’s game has developed significantly since then and the game at international and club level is now much more professional but players still need support on and off the pitch to enable them to fulfil their potential,” she said.
Warriors managing director Peter Kelly hailed the agreement as a ‘significant partnership’ for the club and university.
“With the power of professional sport, it is a fantastic opportunity to drive awareness in the UK and overseas and help attract even more students to our fantastic university and wonderful city,” he said.
“This ambitious partnership will inspire the next generation of students to strive for a career in sport, whether that is on field or off field, and as a club we are extremely excited to see what we can achieve together.”
Professor David Green CBE DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Worcester said he was delighted with the deal.
“The 21st Century is proving to be the century for the rise of women’s sport,” he said.
“Our work together will enable and encourage many more girls and women to participate in sport whilst gaining a first-class education.”
