BREAKING: Worcester Warriors renamed...will not play in the Championship in 2023-24

Thursday, 09 February 2023 at 11:38

byRugby Rucker

Owners Atlas have announced that Worcester Warriors have abandoned their plan to compete in the Championship next season and will instead rebrand as Sixways Rugby.

The Rugby Football Union had given the Warriors a deadline of February 14th to fulfill the requirements to play in the second tier. However, Jim O'Toole, who was part of the Atlas takeover with James Sandford, stated that they have ended discussions on the matter.

But Jim O'Toole, who led the Atlas takeover alongside James Sandford, said they have pulled out of talks.

"There were a number of key clauses in the contract that we couldn't sign," said O'Toole.

He told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "This decision will clearly upset and annoy a number of people.

"The sad fact of life is that the Worcester Warriors brand and the Worcester Warriors business is gone.

"The name sadly will disappear. We are rebranding as Sixways Rugby."

The new club will instead partner with fourth-tier side Stourbridge, who ex-Warriors chief executive O'Toole says will play at Sixways for the rest of the season.

Next season, under the new name of 'Sixways Rugby', they will compete in the National League 2 West.

Two more Premiership clubs in trouble as league’s debt topples £500m

#13. Exeter Chiefs - £13m

#12. Gloucester - £27m

#11. Northampton Saints £26.5m

#10. Worcester Warriors - £26.5m

Worcester Warriors flags fly in support of the club as they go through difficult times. during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Worcester Warriors and Exeter Chiefs at Sixways on 18 Sept 2022 Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

#9. Sale Sharks - £30.9m

#8. Leicester Tigers - £31m

Guy Porter of Leicester Tigers during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Semi Final Match between Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on 11 June. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK