The future owners of Worcester Warriors, have released a statement about how they are not planning to start from the very bottom tier of the English rugby pyramid. Atlas are the soon-to-be owners of the Worcestershire club, and instead want to merge with Stourbridge RFC, who play in the fifth tier.
The RFU have not yet received a formal application for the club merger, but are adamant that any new Worcester Warriors side would have to start off in the 10th division of the pyramid, to prevent Worcester from ‘buying a league position’.
The Atlas consortium is led by Former Worcester Warriors Chief Executive Jim O’Toole, who discussed the plans of joining the fifth division to Worcester News.
“We see no reason for a new Worcester Warriors to go to the bottom of the rugby pyramid,” said O’Toole.
“There have been various press reports about different possibilities, such as a merger or taking over the first XV of Stourbridge RFC,” the RFU said.
“All of this would need RFU approval and we would need to consult with other relevant stakeholders (e.g. other local clubs).
“We are still in constant dialogue with Stourbridge RFC about the proposed commercial sponsorship with their first team playing as a re-branded Worcester Warriors in Regional 1 Midlands in 2023/24, with the goal of a return to Championship level rugby within 5 years and their migration to Sixways.
“That remains the aim, subject of course to Stourbridge membership approval firstly, then RFU consultation and approval.”
The RFU have commented recently on the reported plans, for Worcester’s potential merger with Stourbridge RFC. BBC Sport presented the recent quotes.
“At the moment we have not received any proposals. We don’t want to pre-empt any process, but the regulations are designed to prevent a club effectively ‘buying’ a league position.”
These statements from the RFU reinforce their previous document, which was released after the Warriors entered financial administration in October 2022. A ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section of the document was reported by BBC Hereford and Worcester to state;
“Worcester Warriors (men’s team) are now exiting the league structure and will not be participating in the league,” the document says.
It adds that any new club formed “could restart at the bottom of the pyramid in season 2023-24 but this would be right at the bottom”.