WORCESTER Warriors owner Christopher Holland has confirmed the club will be applying to join a new Tier 2 league for the 2025/26 season.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) formally invited teams to join the new league and set a deadline of 5pm on Sunday, October 13 for Worcester to submit their interest.
It marks a significant step for the Sixways club following their financial collapse in October 2022.
Warriors and Junction 6 Ltd owner Christopher Holland said: “Worcester Warriors can confirm that we have received the formal invitation from the RFU to submit our expression of interest to return to the second tier of the professional game in England.
“The deadline for submission is Sunday, October 13. The Warriors will be submitting their expression of interest next week.”
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.
The RFU confirmed a tender process is open to identify teams to join the new-look Tier 2 following the demise of professional clubs Worcester, Wasps and London Irish.
The statement reads: “A tender process is open to the whole game, to join the revamped men’s Tier 2 competition (current Championship), launching in the 2025-26 season.
“Interested clubs, universities, colleges and others are invited submit an expression of interest by 5pm on Sunday, October 13.
“Once expressions of interest are received, interested parties will receive a formal submission request.
“Over the past 18 months, the RFU, Championship Club Committee and Premiership Rugby have been working to develop a reimagined Tier 2.
“The aim is to create a second tier that supports the English system by developing young English talent, whilst supporting the clubs to become financially sustainable, by growing local audiences and increasing the value in the league.
“In April 2024, RFU Council approved the principles of a new governance structure, the Minimum Operating Standards and the principle of Tier 2 comprising 14 clubs from 2025-26. This tender process is to identify those clubs and institutions that are interested in being part of a reimagined league.”
