"All hoped-for things will come to you
Who have the strength to watch and wait,
Our longings spur the steeds of Fate,
This has been said by one who knew."
Violet Fane; née (Mary Montgomerie Lamb)
My last communication, just prior to Christmas, clarified that there had been no public declaration from the RFU as to which club(s) has(ve) been invited to join the reformed English professional tier two league. As of today, this remains the case despite this minuted assurance at the November RFU Council meeting:
7. Tier 2 Growth Strategy and Phased Transition
7.1 Following an open process, in which several highly impressive candidates were interviewed by representatives of the RFU and the current Championship Clubs, Simon Gillham had been appointed as the independent chair of the Tier 2 Board.
7.2 Conor O’Shea (Executive Director of Performance Rugby) outlined the current process for assessing applicants for any new places in the new 14 team Tier 2 competition in 2025/26.
7.3 A significant number of clubs in the National Leagues, as well as other entities, expressed interest ahead of receiving the full RFP documentation. These were in the process of being assessed, and selected applicants will be invited for interview and successful club(s) then invited to join before Christmas.
Worcester Warriors supporters have become experts at playing the waiting game over the last couple of years, albeit without much enthusiasm for the process itself. We must remember that the end-point is all important and, if we do see a Warriors team running out at Sixways in September, the painful memories of the last two years will surely begin to fade.
Unfortunately we are destined to remain in limbo-land for the next couple of weeks at least, with news that the Tier 2 Board has requested further details from the short-listed club(s), above and beyond the information already provided during the application process. The board and club representatives are due to convene again before the end of this month. We understand that a decision will be forthcoming thereafter. Clearly, the idea of any of the “phoenix clubs” returning at the second tier of the ladder is a contentious one so WWST understand the need to ensure that the decision-making process is watertight.
In terms of those unsympathetic to the return of a phoenix club, including those in the rugby media, they would do well to remember that, should Warriors be playing in next year’s T2, they will have satisfied all the terms of the RFU’s liquidation protocol including the payment of rugby creditors. Something that the likes of London Welsh failed to do. For more detail on this please refer to my previous post “Judgment Day Looms.”
We know how much hard work those at Sixways have put into Warriors’ application and how dear is their wish for it to be successful. There have been a few supporters concerned about a lack of information concerning the application process but remember another old adage:
"Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise."
Hopefully that particular type of noise will be overwhelming come the end of this month.
Supporters Event 23rd January
We have had a really positive response to our forthcoming event at Sixways with well over 200 tickets sold thus far. Due to our contractual agreement with Sixways Stadium we are obliged to provide a list of attendees with 72 hours notice. This means that we will be closing ticket sales on the evening of Monday 20th at 6pm. There will be no “entry on the day” so please ensure that you get your tickets in good time. They are free for subscribed members of WWST and are available here.
Decisions are still being made as to the exact format of the Q&A but we plan to use a “Question Time” style and will be contacting all those attending to submit their questions within the next few days. We may take additional questions from those unable to attend but those there on the night will be prioritised. The panel is expected to consist of Chris Holland (Director of Junction 6 Limited), Stephen Vaughan (Strategy Director for Worcester Warriors), Carol Hart (CEO of Worcester Warriors Foundation) and Marcus Mulcahy (Chairman of WWST).
The AGM is unlikely to take longer than 10 minutes with no new members nominated to join the board and no motions or questions tabled. There will therefore be no requirement for a vote and the re-election of the current board, all of whom have agreed to stand again, will be a formality. Reports from our Chairman and Treasurer will be published prior to the AGM on this website. Any supplementary questions can be put to the chairman during the Q&A.
The Supporters Trust has exciting plans ahead to better support local rugby and these will be revealed before the event so as to be a potential topic of discourse on the night.
As mentioned before there will be a fully-licensed bar and “tuck-shop” style snacks available for sale. We intend the event to be a social occasion with the opportunity to catch up with fellow supporters during the intermission. The bar will also remain open for around 30 minutes after the Q&A - all moneys taken will go 100% to the club so make sure to use the facilities!
Copyright Ian Smith Photography
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