"Special exemption" - Premiership want to allow Worcester players to move freely - Ruck

“Special exemption” – Premiership want to allow Worcester players to move freely

The Telegraph is reporting that Premiership Rugby want to introduce an emergency salary-cap dispensation to sign Worcester Warriors players that are forced to leave the club.

For the the proposal to be passed, all clubs must agree to the change in regulation.

Warriors were issued by HM Revenue & Customs with a winding-up petition last week over an unpaid tax bill of around £6m.

And at a court hearing, HM Revenue & Customs indicated their belief that the Warriors should be liquidated unless they can pay their debt.

In a statement, the club responded by saying it was “working on solutions to secure the future and to pay outstanding tax”.

Editor of Worcester News, Marcello Cossali-Francis, shared a worrying update on Saturday evening.

“I believe we have hit a point where there is serious unrest as the club and a real worry about the future of it. What needs to happen now is a full sale of all assets to ensure the club does not go bust, but what buyer would take the club and not the land? It’s a real mess, folks.

“I also understand there could also be some player movement through the club, regardless of the outcome of all this. Players need stability for their families and can’t be sat wondering where the next pay packet is coming from.

Ahead of the new season… this is so damaging.”

EDITORS PICKS:

WORCESTER’S FIVE HIGHEST-PAID PLAYERS:

#5. Matt Kvesic

  • Age: 30
  • Position: Flanker
  • Honours: England
Exeter Chiefs player Matt Kvesic during the warm up before the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Sale Sharks and Exeter Chiefs at JW Bell Stadium on March 2nd – PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK

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