"It'll never come around to me again"

It is a tradition in our family to play a table-top game of Jenga on Christmas Day evening; we usually have 8 or 10 players, young and old. My grandfather, Les Sheldon (now playing games in heaven) was always an avid competitor, despite failing eyesight and hearing. As each game progressed and the pile of wooden bricks began to look precarious after his turn he would always comment "It'll never going to come around to me again." With evident skill on show however, he would most often be proved wrong and have to steady his hand to have another go; sometimes this would happen several times in one game. The phrase "it's not going to come around to me again" has since gone down in legend in my extended family.

Since retirement, I have taken to shaving just once every few weeks (or until the bristles annoy Mrs M. at any rate). It occurred to me, as I had my infrequent beard-trim on Christmas Morning, that by the time it came around to me shaving again we would almost certainly know the fate of Worcester Warriors' application to join Tier 2. After all, we had been informed by the RFU that applicant clubs would be made aware of the decision prior to Christmas - so surely it wouldn't take another two weeks - in other words, the long wait would be over by the time it came around to me shaving again. Unfortunately, despite me holding out for an additional 10 days or so, with our AGM pending, I could reasonably wait no longer to trim the whiskers. So, with absolute confidence, I took up my razor on 21st January and thought to myself "our wait will definitely be over by the next time"; I knew it to be true - it will never come round to me shaving again before we know our fate.

Sadly another 8 weeks has now passed (and another 3 shaves), since we were reliably informed that a decision was expected before the end of January. The grey whiskers are back but I'm due to remove them tomorrow, prior to a romantic dinner-date. Surely, after tomorrow, it can't "come around to me again" before the Tier Two Board break cover with a decision.....?

Tier 2 Board Statement

• Simon Gillham OBE (Independent Chairman)

• Nick Johnston (CEO Coventry Rugby)

• Simon Beatham (Director Nottingham Rugby)

• Simon Cohen (RFU Council Championship Clubs’ representative)

• Stuart Ramsey (RFU Commercial Director)

• Conor O’Shea (RFU Executive Director of Performance Rugby)

• Terry Burwell (RFU Council Member for Hampshire clubs)

Yesterday the Tier 2 Board, composed as above, released a short statement regarding the MOS Criteria audit for clubs applying for possible promotion to the Premiership following it's publication by the Men's Professional Rugby Board:

"The Tier 2 Board has been working over recent months to create a new and improved league, starting next season, with a vision to inspire and engage current and future generations of rugby fans, while also bringing commercial sustainability and growth to its clubs.  We look forward to bringing updates on our plans in the coming weeks.

We were disappointed that the audit on minimum operating standards for the Premiership means that there will be no promotion or relegation between the Premiership and Tier 2 next season.  Aspiration and jeopardy are the lifeblood of sporting competition and ensuring Tier 2 clubs always have a realistic chance of moving into the Premiership is key. 

Financial stability is vital and everything we’re putting in place to develop the second tier is to drive us towards that through improved standards and a more commercially attractive product that will bring in new fans.  We are working closely with the RFU, PRL and the MPRB to provide a joined-up rugby system to enable professional rugby in its entirety to thrive and prosper."

Although there is nothing particularly new in this statement it does again confirm that the new Tier 2 will commence in September 2025 and will not be deferred as has been widely speculated. Certainly the aspiration for promotion / relegation between the top two divisions is fundamental to all but the most one-eyed of rugby supporters. We know the importance of both promotion and relegation battles in the history of Worcester Warriors. Without its restoration the English professional game will never be able to grow.

Press Reportage

The final paragraph of the T2B statement appears more relevant following the publication on the Telegraph website last night of an article by their deputy rugby correspondent, Daniel Schofield. The opening few lines of his piece declare:

"A reformed Worcester Warriors must provide significant financial guarantees if they are to be offered a place in an expanded Championship next season.Telegraph Sport understands that Worcester, who collapsed into administration when they were in the Premiership in 2022, are the front-runners to be offered a place in the Championship when the Tier 2 board meet next week."

Schofield also quotes an anonymous (but surely a T2B member?) source:

“It is also about risk versus reward. The pluses are that rugby creditors will be paid who would not have been paid otherwise, we are reviving a club who would not otherwise have been revived and their proposition with their fan-base and infrastructure would enhance the Championship like no other team. However, we also do not want to see them go bump again which is why we are asking for the guarantees.”

To understand what financial guarantees might be involved requires knowledge of what applicants were told when the formation of a new second tier was announced last year:

"For any applicants that are not currently in the league structure, consideration will also be

given to the following elements:

a. Membership of the RFU or evidence that an applicant can comply with the relevant

provisions of RFU Regulation 3.4 (Membership of the RFU);

b. If entering the league structure otherwise in accordance with RFU Regulation 6,

consideration will also be given to RFU Regulation 5 and in particular the provisions

relating to Rugby Creditors.

The Tier 2 Board will make a final recommendation to RFU Board which will approve the

final number and composition of teams for Tier 2 2025/26 season in January 2025."

This would suggest, as reported in Blogposts passim that the RFU can stipulate wide-ranging financial measures on phoenix entities according to RFU Regulation 5. From the wording, it would also indicate that the Tier 2 Board has influence over what financial guarantees are required, perhaps ahead of the RFU Board's final decision.

Much of what was reported however was positive about a Warriors return, including the fact that player/coach recruitment is underway; we would have the best facilities of any side outside the Premiership and a "captive fan-base." Many of us have indeed felt imprisoned since we lost the club we support. It's long overdue that we became eligible for release..... just don't read the comments section!

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WWST on the road again

Tomorrow (22nd March) a few of the WWST Board members will be stationed at the Bell Square in Crowngate Shopping Centre between 10am and 4pm. Any members who have not yet picked up their membership pin-badges are welcome to do so. Come and have a chat about our plans for the future including the grant scheme for W&H RFU community clubs and a "hardship fund" for young players struggling to access the RFU Academy at Kingsholm.

Finally, for now, we are hoping to get a few more Supporter Events organised for the coming weeks and months. Please give us an indication of how much the following might appeal. This poll is as an expression of interest only but successful applicants will be informed of the results prior to Christmas 2025.

Would you be interested in joining us for:

• Moseley v Sale FC @ Billesley Common on Saturday12th April
• Rum & Reggae Race-night @ Worcester Races Friday 23rd May
• Both
• Neither