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'Will never forgive those responsible': Players wade in on Worcester demise

By Ian Cameron
Sixways Stadium /PA

As the dust settles on the demise of Worcester Warriors, a whole range of emotions regarding the fiasco continue to be shared on social media.

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On Tuesday WRFC Players Ltd – the part of the business responsible for paying the players – was liquidated, while WRFC Trading Limited was formally placed into administration. The club are now the first Premiership team to go into administration in 23 years and although Worcester’s end had become something of a foregone conclusion in recent weeks, the sport is still reeling from the shock.

As Worcester Warriors head coach Steve Diamond put it: ‘This is the darkest day for English rugby’.

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While there is a great deal of sadness over the demise of the club, which the RFU confirmed will be relegated to the RFU Championship, the overriding emotion remains anger at owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring.

The pair have been painted as the villains of the piece and players, both former and current, laid into the duo on social media.

Former hooker Niall Annett, who now plays for Bath, wrote that he could never forgive ‘those responsible’, who were today replaced: “A family, friends for life and a chance to pursue and chase my ambition. That’s what Worcester Warriors gave me all those years ago. Will never forgive those who are responsible for taking the lifeblood of the community away from its people. Sending love to all those affected.”

Current front-rower Jack Owlett wrote: “Gutted and shocking it’s come to this with Worcester Warriors. It’s something you never think will actually happen but I can’t express how grateful I am to the players, staff, supporters and everyone else that has stuck by us through thick and thin.”

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Women’s player Josie Symonds struck a poignant note, writing: “For the games I’ve played; For the games I’ve worked; The players I’ve helped; The colleagues I’ve learnt from; The friends I’ve made; The wins and the losses; The resilience and unity; For everything it’s given me; Forever, grateful; Forever, home.”

Worcester lock Joe Batley said that the players did take a paycut, something the owners suggested hadn’t happened, or at least that said cuts weren’t not of a sufficient amount. Batley told Sky that: “I don’t know what their game-plan was in the long term. The more you look into it, the more sinister it seems. I’m not assuming too much, but upset and let down is how I feel in this situation, and they are the brunt of it.

“It’s tough to hear [owners’ statement] because we did during Covid take a wage cut. It was forced upon us and then later on we decided to continue it for the betterment of the club. There’s been anger and detest towards them for standing by and letting this happen.”

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On a lighter note, the former England U20s star thanked the club for all it has done for him on Instagram. “Worcester, I want to say simply Thankyou. You’ve been home to me and my family and will forever be Wilfred’s first home. I can’t fathom how this can possibly be the end. The city, the club and the fans have been fantastic. I have had the pleasure of meeting and playing along side so many incredible people. So for now I need to look towards a new chapter.

While Worcester Warriors’ end game is nigh, the fallout in a sport that finds itself forever on a metaphorical knife-edge will no doubt continue.

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john 37 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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A
Adrian 2 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

14 Go to comments
T
Trevor 5 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 9 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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