WORCESTER Warriors are returning to professional rugby more than two years after the club entered administration.
The Rugby Football Union’s (RFU’s) new Tier 2 board have selected Warriors to join the newly-established Tier 2 league for the start of the 2025/26 season.
It means professional rugby will return to Sixways Stadium with the league made up of the existing 12 Championship clubs, the promoted team from National League One and Warriors.
Worcester submitted a formal expression of interest to join the new Tier 2 league in October last year.
Warriors and Junction 6 Limited owner Christopher Holland also submitted plans to redevelop the ground and surrounding area in November.
Warriors chairman, Holland said: “There is a big energy to return to the top tier but when we can afford to do so.
“We have a kit sponsor, we have got a large selection of names and large selection of conditional offers out there, we will not have a problem with putting out a quality team.
“Our budget is there or thereabouts with regards to the top five, we are sustainable.
“Hopefully, we can increase our spend on the squad once the P and L’s start to ripen.”
Worcester entered administration in September 2022 with the club burdened by debts totalling more than £20m.
However, the new Tier 2 board state the club’s new ownership has a ‘clear and funded business plan in place to deliver future success’.
Holland added: “We are required to settle rugby creditors as defined by RFU Regulation 5. We acknowledge and fully own this process and the responsibility that comes with it.
“Had we opted to restart at the bottom of the rugby pyramid, the obligation to settle rugby creditors would have been removed.
“However, with the clear intent of investing and developing the future of rugby in the region, we have taken full responsibility for addressing these inherited obligations.
“We now enter a defined period in which to provide financial guarantees, and to identify, validate, and agree all inherited rugby creditors.”
