Archive

  • 22/11/00 - Cooke slams strike threat

    GEOFF Cooke has blasted the England rugby union squad for "holding their country to ransom" after their threatened strike was averted earlier today. Worcester Rugby Club's chief executive believes the squad have lost public support after their threats

  • 22/10/99 - Harvey steps up for key job

    SCRUM-half Ben Harvey makes a giant leap into the unknown by playing his first ever league game at stand-off for Worcester tomorrow (3.00). The former Richmond number nine will be wearing 10 at West Hartlepool after Tony Yapp suffered shoulder damage

  • 21/11/00 - Barrow boosts Sixways title bid

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have won the race to sign highly rated centre Scott Barrow from Rugby League giants St Helens. The 20-year-old is the latest league star to switch codes despite interest from Castleford Tigers and Leigh Centurions last month and he

  • 20/11/00 - Second-half show infuriates Skeggs

    ADRIAN Skeggs branded his Worcester Rugby Club team "unprofessional" as they once again showed their capacity to exhilarate and frustrate with equal intensity yesterday. The Sixways side showed their Jekyll and Mr Hyde characteristics with a sometime

  • 20/10/99 - New hooker is in the clear

    HOOKER Marco Caputo has been given the all clear to make his debut for Worcester at West Hartlepool on Saturday. Sixways director of rugby Les Cusworth was given the green light from Twickenham yesterday after his formal registration was completed. Worcester

  • 18/11/00 - Ally determined

    ALLY McLean is hoping Sunday's clash with Otley kick-starts his Worcester Rugby Club career after a few stalls since his summer move from Bedford. The flying Scotsman makes only his second start in a Gold'n'Blue jersey in the National Division One encounter

  • 20/10/99 - 3,000 set to enjoy Tetley tie in Kendal

    KENDAL Rugby Club have described their draw at home to Worcester in the Tetley Bitter Cup as 'wonderful'. Worcester will be the second Premiership club to visit Mintbridge in the last 12 months after London Scottish scraped a 25-20 victory in round four

  • 18/10/99 - Cusworth's men go two points in front

    LES Cusworth's men sent out a resounding message to the rest of the league on Saturday -- catch us if you can! Worcester's thumping 84-15 victory at Wakefield, coupled with Leeds' 17-11 reverse at Rotherham, leaves them two points clear at the top of

  • 14/11/00 - Rugby crisis talks loom

    WORCESTER Rugby Club could know this week whether they are playing for automatic promotion to the Premiership or a play-off spot this season. The meeting aimed at breaking the deadlock between English First Division Rugby (EFDR) clubs and the English

  • Friend and foe

    JAMES Lofthouse could fire across the bows of Worcester's promotion push by lining up against his old club for Wakefield on Saturday. The former England U21 stand-off left Worcester two weeks ago to study a business degree at Newcastle University. His

  • 13/11/00 - Lack of patience cost us -- Cooke

    GEOFF Cooke bemoaned Worcester Rugby Club's lack of patience after seeing his side dumped out the Tetley's Bitter Cup by Premiership top dogs Saracens yesterday. Sixways' chief executive pointed to the final 20 minutes of the first-half of the match as

  • Caputo: Blue is the colour

    NEW signing Marco Caputo could become Worcester Rugby Club's first regular international after receiving clearance to play for Italy in this season's Six Nations championship. The 28-year-old hooker joined Worcester yesterday after a torrid month at cash-strapped

  • 11/11/00 - Sixways model to follow

    FORMER Worcester Rugby Club president David Hallmark has outlined his plans for the future of rugby in the wake of the ongoing row over promotion and relegation. The ex-player believes the rest of rugby should take up the Worcester model if it is to have

  • Aussie hooker signs at Sixways

    LEAGUE leaders Worcester Rugby Club have signed former Australian international hooker Marco Caputo. The 28-year-old has been snapped up after becoming a free agent due to financial problems at Premiership One Bedford. Although not a current Wallabies

  • 9/10/99 - Fenley has new lease of life at Worcester

    ON the surface nothing has chan-ged for Bruce Fenley, he is Wor-cester's regular scrum-half, he captains the side and Worcester keep on winning. But during the last six months his life has changed dramatically and he is now thriving on new- found space

  • 8/10/99 - Fenley's men on revenge mission

    WORCESTER Rugby Club go gunning for revenge at Sixways tonight against the team which ended their promotion dream last season. Defeat at Coventry in April left Worcester six points behind pacesetters Rotherham with just two games left of a long campaign

  • 7/11/00 - Worcester brush up on their teamwork

    WHEN Worcester Rugby Club coach Adrian Skeggs ordered his side to clean up their act the players thought they were in for a hard time in training. However, he had something else in mind as the squad, due to play Saracens in the Tetley Bitter Cup on Sunday

  • 05/10/99 - New lock may hold the key

    INJURIES to locks Steve Lloyd and Chris Raymond have dealt Worcester a double blow as they prepare for Friday's Allied Dunbar Premiership Two clash with Coventry. The second row pair started last weekend's 20-19 victory at London Welsh but Lloyd suffered

  • 7/11/00 - Clubs waiting on OFT verdict

    THE Office of Fair Trading is due to make a decision this week on whether English First Division Rugby clubs acted unfairly in the ongoing promotion and relegation row. English Second Division Rugby clubs (ESDR) applied to the office three weeks ago after

  • 5/10/99 - Bedford buy-out snub by Cecil

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have dismissed Coventry's scheme to buy Premiership One Bedford as a scheme destined for the Rugby Football Union's dustbins. Sixways owner Cecil Duckworth and chief executive Geoff Cooke believe the proposed buy-out will be blocked

  • Gala day fails to draw the crowds

    WORCESTER'S first gala day had all the elements to bring the city to life - except visitors. Disappointed organisers said the poor turnout on Saturday had left them wondering what on earth to do to try and draw a crowd. The event at the racecourse had

  • 3/11/00 - Tynedale target Worcester scalp

    TYNEDALE'S director of rugby John Shotton believes his side are capable of shooting down table-topping Worcester in the Tetley Bitter Cup on Saturday. The Sixways side square up to Shotton's troops at Tynedale Park (2.30pm) near Hexham for the fourth

  • 01/10/99 - Cusworth keeps faith in side

    LEAGUE leaders Worcester have kept faith with the side which beat promotion rivals Rotherham despite the return of lock Richard Denhardt. The Sixways selectors have named the same XV which won 21-10 at Sixways on Saturday so Denhardt, who has completed

  • County testing for new health device

    A NEW device to give staff access to medical information at any time is to be piloted in Worcestershire. The General Packet Radio System is a small laptop device that has permanent access to the Worcestershire NHS Trust network and the internet. The GPRS

  • 30/09/99 - Forward ready to start with seconds

    SIMON Devereux is to play his first match for 11 months after being named in Worcester Rugby Club's second team this Saturday. The back row forward ended a nine year spell with Gloucester when he signed for Worcester but he has not played since breaking

  • 1/11/00 - Clubs say they won't break away

    ENGLAND'S leading rugby union clubs last night insisted they had no plans for a breakaway in the aftermath of Rob Andrew's resignation. Andrew quit his role in Club England on Monday over the Rugby Football Union's failure to implement his blueprint for

  • 1/11/00 - Sixways blow as Va'a is ruled out

    WORCESTER Rugby Club will have to do without Samoan fly- half Earl Va'a at Saracens if they come through their Tetley Bitter Cup fourth round clash at Tynedale on Saturday. The Sixways team, due to play at Vicarage Road in the fifth round on November

  • Baseball bat attacker is jailed for 12 months

    A pub barman who launched a violent attack with a baseball bat after a row in Stourport town centre has been jailed for 12 months. Aaron Weavers chased and beat Richard Kilgour after having three teeth knocked out by another man, Worcester Crown Court

  • 31/10/00 - Decision to quit was no surprise

    ROB Andrew admitted defeat yesterday in his quest to revolutionise rugby union when he quit as chairman of the RFU taskforce. The former England ace resigned after becoming increasingly frustrated with English rugby's governing body's inability to implement

  • No ban on hoses pledges water director

    TAPS will continue to flow during the long, hot summer with no hint of a hose-pipe ban, Severn Trent has pledged. The Midlands' water giant promised there would be no shortages this year because it had waged a £200m war on leakage and encouraged householders

  • City degrees for Chinese

    UNIVERSITY College Worcester will be staging a graduation ceremony with a difference today when 10 Chinese government officials are handed their degrees. The postgraduate delegation, all high-ranking Government officers and administrators from Guangxi

  • 27/10/00 - Springbok clash could hold key

    THERE will be a mini South African battle when Worcester Rugby Club travel to Waterloo tomorrow when two Springbok centres square up in the National Division One encounter. In the Gold'n'Blue corner Rudi Keil will face Freeman Payne in the Red and Green

  • Walker aims for repeat against old pals

    FLYING winger Mat Walker is looking to turn the tables on his old club Rotherham by repeating his sensational Sixways hat-trick. When the clubs last met in May, Rotherham were still involved in a nail-biting promotion race but swept aside Worcester with

  • 24/10/00 - Keil targets Premiership spot

    SOUTH African Rudi Keil completed his dream move to Worcester yesterday and immediately set his sights on getting his new rugby club into the Premiership. The 22-year-old, who signed from South Western District Eagles until the end of the season, believes

  • Trigger happy

    CHILDREN from a Worcester primary school saddled up for lessons of a different kind. Youngsters from Cranham Primary took the reins of Trigger a mechanical cantering horse, as part of a drive to encourage more to take up the sport. They were helped by

  • 26/10/00 - Worcester hit by Va'a injury

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have been dealt an injury blow ahead of their battle of Waterloo on Saturday with Earl Va'a ruled out for three weeks. The Samoan international fly-half has a fractured hand and will definitely miss the weekend's National Division

  • 16/9/99 - Merlin added to Sixways squad

    DAVE Merlin has been drafted into Worcester Rugby Club's squad for their Allied Dunbar Pre-miership Two clash at Henley Hawks on Satur-day. He has been called up as flanker Ed Orgee is facing a fitness test on an injured shoulder and fellow back row forward

  • 13/9/99 - Power pack is too hot for Rugby

    WORCESTER Rugby Club sailed to the top of an embryonic league table with a 73-0 demolition of Rugby Lions. In an embarrassingly one-sided affair they scored eleven tries while the visitors only managed a single penalty attempt from the half-way line.

  • 17/10/00 - Duckworth in warning of hidden agenda

    WORCESTER Rugby Club benefactor Cecil Duckworth has warned the Rugby Football Union of a hidden agenda to the Premiership's push to end automatic promotion. Duckworth believes if top English clubs get their way in denying First Division clubs promotion

  • 08/09/99 - Top view delights Sixways director

    LES Cusworth has described Worcester Rugby Club's new stand as boasting one of the best views in the land. The club's director of rugby spoke as the new south stand was officially unveiled by the RFU's management board chairman Brian Baister. "It's very

  • 07/09/99 - All Star prop back in frame

    PROP Tony Windo said he will be playing for the whole of Worcester Rugby Club when he takes on England's World Cup hopefuls tonight. The loose head is the only Division Two player to be chosen for the Premiership All Stars squad who play an England XV

  • Worcester 23 London Welsh 10

    Saturday, March 25, 2000 AFTER the thrills and spills of recent weeks Worcester's fans were perhaps due a more straightforward game . . . and that was exactly what they got. Two Premiership points were duly delivered without any fuss via a comprehensive

  • 14/10/00 - England U21 happy to live with Sixways competition

    CHRIS Simpson-Daniel admits he is under pressure with the arrival of new boy Richard Jarman but will let his rugby do the talking against his old club this afternoon. Simpson-Daniel lines up against Wakefield knowing that the new scrum-half on the block

  • 06/09/99 - A dream start but Cooke raps side

    WORCESTER Rugby Club's new chief executive Geoff Cooke described Saturday's 36-7 victory at Manchester as a "dream performance". But the former England coach was referring to the fact they won while played poorly rather than already looking like the finished

  • Worcester 28 Exeter 24

    WORCESTER clung onto the coat tails of the Premiership Two pacesetters by mounting a dramatic comeback against Exeter to score a priceless 28-24 victory under the Sixways floodlights. They trailed 24-15 just after half-time, were outscored by four tries

  • 13/10/00 - New arrival has sights on boosting All Black hopes

    NEW signing Richard Jarman settled into the Sixways surroundings yesterday -- and set his sights on Chris Simpson-Daniel's shirt. The Kiwi, who joined Worcester Rugby Club from New Zealand side Taranaki, is keen to cement a place in the Sixways team and

  • 03/09/99 - Debut delight

    WORCESTER'S boy wonder Andrew Higgins will make his full debut as the Gold 'n' Blues start their league campaign at Manchester tomorrow. The England Under 18 star is in the starting line-up named director of rugby Les Cusworth has named for the Allied

  • Worcester 41 Wakefield 32

    Saturday, February 26, 2000 WORCESTER re-emerged as title contenders following a rare treat of rugby entertainment. Their 41-32 victory included some wonderful running and free-flowing tries from both sides and plenty of teams will have played worse than

  • 02/09/99 - Lock out as injury sidelines forward

    WORCESTER lock Dave Sims will miss the start of the league campaign with a foot injury. The former Gloucester captain will be out for around two weeks after damaging a tendon during Saturday's friendly against Wasps. It means he misses Saturday's Allied

  • Worcester 57 West Hartlepool 3

    Saturday, February 12, 2000 WORCESTER put three weeks of turbulent transfer dealings behind them to score a 57-3 victory in an incident packed match with West Hartlepool. On paper it looked a drab encounter between one of Premiership Two's high fliers

  • Waterloo 12 Worcester 22

    Saturday, January 22, 2000 WORCESTER dismissed troubled Waterloo without ever showing the form of a side looking for promotion. Their 22-12 win was comfortable enough but there was never any chance of repeating their 78-10 victory at Sixways in Nov-ember

  • 25/8/99 - Alvis signs and takes on Wasps

    NEW signing James Alvis is included in Worcester Rugby Club's squad to face National Cup champions Wasps in a pre-season warm-up match at Sixways on Saturday (3pm). Prop forward Alvis, who previously played for Exeter Chiefs, has been on trial at Sixways

  • 09/10/00 - Path to the Premiership starts today for Mather

    WORCESTER Rugby Club's latest signing Cameron Mather begins the first step towards the Premiership when he makes his debut at Coventry today. The 28-year-old flanker, who has spent this week settling into new surroundings, said one of the main reasons

  • Worcester 8 London Irish 12

    Monday, January 3, 2000 WORCESTER Rugby Club were taught a lesson in grinding out a result by London Irish who secured a 12-8 Tetley Bitter Cup round four win without ever quickening the pulses. The Exiles were robbed of play-maker Stephen Bachop with

  • 04/10/00 - Mather named in Worcester line-up

    NEW signing Cameron Mather will be sent to Coventry to make his Worcester Rugby Club debut on Saturday. The 28-year-old Scottish international flanker plays his first game at Barkers Butts Lane as Worcester look to continue their 100 per cent start in

  • 23/8/99 - Cusworth in full-back poser

    WORCESTER Rugby Club are facing a problem at full-back less than two weeks before the start of the new season. The club have lost three full-backs, John Liley, Tim Smith and Richards Le Bas during the summer and injuries have created further problems.

  • Exeter 16 Worcester 10

    Saturday, Decmber 11, 1999 WORCESTER'S seemingly un-stoppable charge to Premiership One has suddenly slammed to a standstill within 15 shocking days. After the defeat at Leeds and poor display at home to Orrell they have now seen their record against

  • 2/10/00 - Kiwi ace to join Sixways title bid

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have strengthened their promotion bid with the signing of former New Zealand under-19 international Richard Jarman. Scrum-half Jarman will put pen to paper at Sixways as soon as his season finishes Down Under with Clifton Seniors

  • 19/08/99 - Summer signings set to bond

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have included 13 of their summer signings for the training weekend in Cornwall. They include injury victims Simon Devereux, Rohan Hoffman and Jamie Connelly who are all unlikely to be ready for the new season. The squad will spend

  • 30/9/00 - Bedford old boy can recall the Blues

    FORMER Bedford lock Dan Zaltzman was set to put any feelings for his old club aside today as Worcester look to continue their superb start to the season. The Sixways side lead National Division One by four points after just three games with a 100 per

  • 17/08/99 - Cooke's promotion hopes

    WORCESTER will be playing Second Division rugby this season after Rotherham lost yesterday's High Court case against the game's ruling bodies. But Sixways' chief executive Geoff Cooke said further action could follow to give clubs in the division more

  • 29/9/00 - Bedford face Sixways battle says Jackson

    COLIN Jackson believes Bedford have a mountain to climb if they are to pull off a shock win against Worcester Rugby Club at Sixways tomorrow. The director of rugby at Goldington Road rates Worcester as the number one side in National League Division One

  • 14/08/99 - Confident for court hearing

    ROTHERHAM Rugby Club are confident of victory in their High Court case against the game's ruling bodies. But whether they will get a last minute promotion will depend on the judge's ruling. The case between Rotherham and English First Division Rugby is

  • 28/9/00 - Second division clubs call in OFT

    ENGLAND'S top rugby clubs have been reported to the Office of Fair Trading in the latest twist in the on-going promotion row. Following a board meeting of the 14 English Second Division clubs (ESDR) last night, including Worcester, the company have decided

  • 11/08/99 - Alvis may provide answer

    WORCESTER Rugby Club are set to decide whether Exeter prop James Alvis can solve a mini crisis in their front row. Talks are continuing to see if the 28-year-old can bolster a squad which has now seen three props leave during the summer. Pete Mitchell

  • Kendal 27, Worcester 44

    Saturday, November 13, 1999 KENDAL proved to be a troublesome gnat which Worcester just couldn't swat on Saturday. Each time the Gold 'n' Blues opened up a comfortable lead they came buzzing back to annoy their more illustrious visitors. Importantly,

  • 27/9/00 - Worcester sign Scotland star

    WORCESTER Rugby Club are set to add another international to their ranks with the signing of flanker Cameron Mather from Edinburgh Reivers. The 28-year-old Scottish international will put pen to paper at Sixways in the next 48 hours but will not be considered

  • 6/8/99 - Alvis facing Sixways trial

    EXETER prop forward James Alvis will be on trial for Worcester as part of the club's first Open Day at Sixways on Sunday. Alvis has been training with the club this week and will take part in one of the squad friendlies against either Midlands Two Malvern

  • Wakefield 15 Worcester 84

    Saturday, October 16, 1999 THE only question to come out of Worcester's resounding 84-15 win at Wakefield is which team is in the wrong division. Wakefield made a fight of it in the first half but the game never looked like being a contest after Worcester

  • Worcester 33 Coventry 15

    Friday, October 8, 1999 AN EXPLOSIVE first-half performance kept Worcester flying at the top of the league as they scored a valuable 33-15 win at home to Coventry last night. Their sixth win in as many Allied Dunbar Premiership Two games came via a Nick

  • 23/9/00 - Hamstring strain may scupper Baxter bid

    ONLY hours after being named in the Worcester side for his first start of the season, Nick Baxter was back on the treatment table yesterday afternoon. It summed up the start of the season for Sixways' favourite winger who, after undergoing a clean-up

  • 3/8/99 - Bridgend clash to pull in fans

    WORCESTER Rugby Club will be battling it out against Welsh Premiership side Bridgend at the first ever Sixways Open Day. The inaugural event, on Sunday, August 8, will feature all-day rugby with the match between Worcester and Bridgend kicking off at

  • Worcester 73 Rugby Lions 0

    Saturday, September 11, 1999. IN TERMS of sporting mis-matches Worcester against Rugby proved to be Mike Tyson versus Willie Carson. The home side pulverised the willing but limited visitors and a bigger winning margin than the 73-0 scoreline would not

  • 21/9/00 - Warriors hit by two late scores

    WORCESTER Rugby Club's Warriors team conceded two late tries to go down 27-16 to Sale Jets in a floodlit friendly at Heywood Road. Worcester crept back from a 12-8 half time score to lead the game at 16-12 with just ten minutes remaining, but Sale fought

  • 24/07/99 - Friendly start at Sixways

    WORCESTER Rugby Club open their pre-season campaign with a friendly against Irish side Connaught at Sixways tomorrow (3.00). The Gold 'n' Blues have named a squad of 31 to take part in the match with the tourists. And Welsh rivals Bridgend will be at

  • 22/07/99 - Experience is a bonus

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have denied that Duncan Hall's dramatic departure was to make way for their new chief executive Geoff Cook. Hall resigned from his post as first team coach last week just days before Cook joined the Sixways back room staff. But the

  • 21/07/99 - Challenge to be continued

    ROTHERHAM Rugby Club are to continue their legal action against the reduction of the top division following a fruitless meeting yesterday. Owners of clubs in the top two leagues met yesterday but Rotherham chief executive Mike Yarlett said the breach

  • 20/7/99 - England U18s sign up

    WORCESTER Rugby Club are continuing to boost their senior squad with the arrival of two junior England internationals at Sixways. Full-back Elijah Sobanjo (pictured standing) and centre Andrew Higgins have joined the Gold 'n' Blues on professional terms

  • 17/7/99 - String of players leave Sixways

    THE flood of new players to Sixways has been matched by a wave of departures including several first-teamers from last season. They include top points scorer Richard Le Bas and his fellow New Zealander back row forward Richard Hilton-Jones who have both

  • 15/7/99 - Worcester win Devereux race

    WORCESTER Rugby Club are poised to unveil Simon Devereux as their 12th summer signing. The Gloucester forward is believed to have agreed terms with the Sixways club after also being tempted by a new contract at Kingsholm. His signing will be announced

  • 14/07/99 - Hall walks out on Worcester

    COACH Duncan Hall has stunned Worcester Rugby Club by quitting on the eve of the new season. The highly-rated Australian has decided to return Down Under after just one year at Sixways. Rugby club owner Cecil Duckworth said Hall had left on good terms

  • 19/9/00 - Bromley chance to stake his claim

    SPENCER Bromley bids to kick-start his season with a run-out at Sale Jets tomorrow night as Worcester Rugby Club's second string side, the Warriors, begin this season's campaign. The winger, who injured his knee early in Worcester's opening National League

  • 09/07/99 - Richards makes it nine new signings

    Junior international hooker James Richards has become the ninth new signing at Worcester Rugby Club. The 23-year-old Welshman, capped at Under 21 level for his country, arrives at Sixways after two seasons with Bedford where he was an ever-present in

  • 16/9/00 - No more divided loyalties for Teki

    SATEKI Tuipulotu was desperate to put one over on his former club today -- even if it means the doghouse for the full back! The Tongan ace was due to face his old side at Sixways for the crunch National League Division One clash between Worcester and

  • 7/7/99 - Worcester peg match prices

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have announced their ticket prices for next season despite their continued quest for first division status. Prices released by the club are for second division rugby but season tickets prices will remain fixed even with a last minute

  • 14/9/00 - Davies puts Sixways decision to test

    LEEDS Tykes' director of rugby Phil Davies brings his side to Worcester Rugby Club on Saturday knowing he could have been in Adrian Skeggs' shoes this season. The former British Lion was approached by Worces-ter in the summer for the vacant Sixways coaching

  • 5/7/99 - Quest for honours starts at new boys

    WORCESTER Rugby Club are due to kick off the new Allied Dunbar Premiership Two season with a trip to Manchester on September 4. But the Sixways club may not fulfil any of their fixtures published below as they are still hoping to become part of Premiership

  • 9/9/00 - Lyman relishes new challenges

    NEIL Lyman is Worcester's longest serving player but the prop forward admits that reporting the pre-season training this year was like attending a new school. They have been so many comings and goings at Sixways during the summer -- 18 new signings and

  • 2/7/99 - Promotion hope for Sixways duo

    WORCESTER Rugby Club's two new boys have spoken of their ambition to lead the club to promotion this season. Rotherham winger Mat Walker and West Hartlepool centre Jamie Connelly both signed full-time contracts with the Sixways club yesterday. And both

  • 8/9/00 - Moretti's title hope after Sixways move

    NEW hooker Andrea Moretti is promising an Italian job on Saturday as Worcester begin their quest for glory. The former Petrarca star, who signed in at Sixways last month, is confident his new side can lay the ghosts of seasons past to rest and clinch

  • 7/9/00 - Warriors set to boost Worcester

    WORCESTER Rugby club will be able to give fringe first team players vital experience this season after launching a new reserve side. Worcester Warriors were today unveiled with chief executive Geoff Cooke hailing it as the solution to a long-running problem

  • 06/09/00 - Skeggs includes eight for debuts

    ADRIAN Skeggs will give league debuts to EIGHT new signings in Worcester Rugby Club's Division One opener at Orrell on Saturday. The Sixways director of coaching has included French under-21 international prop forward Mohamed Benbouhout in his side which

  • 5/9/00 - Guscott may play at Sixways

    FORMER England stars Phil De Glanville and Jeremy Guscott are included in the Bath side who face Worcester Rugby Club in their final pre-season game at Sixways tonight (7.30pm). De Glanville is pencilled in to face Adrian Skegg's side and Guscott will

  • 23/06/99 - Rugby's mayfair disagreement!

    WORCESTER and Rotherham rugby clubs could mount a legal challenge that could see both promoted into the sports top division. They are contesting the decision to reduce the number of teams in Premiership One from 14 to 12 clubs because they say it contravenes

  • 4/9/00 - French prop to boost title bid

    ADRIAN Skeggs believes Worcester Rugby Club's latest signing will give his side the mean streak they need to clinch promotion. The Sixways director of coaching has signed Mohamed Benbouhout on a one-year contract after the French Under-21 international

  • 30/08/00 - Skeggs ready to build on feast of tries

    FOUR tries from England Students scrum-half Chris Simpson-Daniel helped Worcester to a convincing 54-14 victory at Pontypool -- the last of their pre-season friendlies. Worcester dominated throughout, but lack of control and basic errors from both sides

  • 29/8/00 - Pontypool test for Worcester

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have announced a 23-man squad to travel to Pontypool for their fifth pre-season friendly match tomorrow (7pm). This will be a chance for Worcester to view players before kicking off their league campaign away at Orrell on September

  • 26/08/00 - Evans targets promotion bid

    CHRISTIAN Evans liked the feeling of promotion so much that he's come to Worcester to try and achieve it again. The 30-year-old number eight arrived at Sixways during the close-season from Bristol, who he helped win promotion to the top flight two seasons

  • 19/8/00 - First team joys for new signing

    MATTHEW Taylor says he has come to Worcester Rugby Club in search of regular first-team rugby. The 21-year-old scrum-half, one of a host of summer arrivals at Sixways, says his chances were limited at his previous club Pontypridd. But he now hopes he

  • 18/8/00 - Set pieces ease Worcester home

    TRIES from second row Gavin Webster and wing Sateki Tuipulotu helped Worcester to a convincing 3-17 victory over Melrose. Worcester's first win of the season came after a solid and mature performance from the entire team, with the visitors totally dominating

  • 17/8/00 - Duckworth warns RFU of civil war

    WORCESTER Rugby Club chairman Cecil Duckworth is preparing to go into battle with First Division clubs for a fair deal over promotion. Representatives of the 14 Second Division clubs are set to declare a civil war with their First Division counterparts

  • 16/8/00 - Argentinian prop signs for Worcester

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have snapped up Argentinian international prop forward Alejandro Moreno. The 27-year-old, who has won six caps for the Pumas, has been playing for French club Agen for the last four seasons. He also has an Italian passport and was

  • 14/8/00 - Missed passes add to misery

    WORCESTER will travel to Melrose this Wednesday hoping to improve on a disappointing 22-10 defeat at home to Ebbw Vale. Neither side impressed but Worcester at least made attempts to entertain the crowd while their Welsh visitors seemed content to use

  • 09/08/00 - Sixways joy over teenage hat-trick

    WORCESTER'S 18-year-old centre Greg Meredith marked his debut with a thrilling hat-trick of tries as the Sixways side started their pre-season with a 40-28 defeat by Pontypridd. Meredith, who joined Worcester just two weeks ago straight from Rossall School

  • 08/08/00 - Sixways start with Welsh test

    Worcester Rugby Club kick-off their pre-season friendlies tonight when they meet Pontypridd at Sixways (7pm). Worcester will be giving most of their 18 summer signings a chance to impress in the first of five friendlies, and are likely to field two completely

  • Aussie Skeggs' Sixways mission

    WORCESTER'S new director of coaching Adrian Skeggs is aiming high in his first season at Sixways. The former New South Wales, Queensland and Natal prop has worked as assistant coach at Harlequins and Bedford, but his recent appointment by Worcester is

  • 26/7/00 - Sixways quartet complete title plan

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have snapped up four more new players to take their number of close-season signings to 19. They are the last few pieces of the jigsaw in Worcester's bid to clinch promotion from the Allied Dunbar Premiership Two next season. The latest

  • 22/7/00 - Broughton aiming to scale the heights

    SECOND just won't be good enough for one of Worcester's summer recruits Nick Broughton. The back row forward wants nothing less than promotion and the Premiership Two trophy. And the desire for success has been fired by the disappointment of being part

  • 19/7/00 - Duckworth hits out at top clubs

    WORCESTER Rugby Club chairman Cecil Duckworth has threatened legal action against Premiership One clubs after they back-tracked on a promotion and relegation agreement. English First Division Rugby are expected to approve plans whereby the only promotion

  • 14/7/00 - Zaltzman's aim is quick return to the top flight

    WORCESTER Rugby Club's new boy Danny Zaltzman says he wants to get back to Premiership One as soon as possible. The 24-year-old lock has had top-flight experience with his last club Bedford, as well as Leicester Tigers and Saracens. He said: "The ambition

  • 12/07/00 - World Cup ace has high hopes

    NEW signing Earl Va'a believes Worcester Rugby Club have a good chance of clinching promotion from Allied Dunbar Premiership Two next season. The Samoan international fly-half made his comments after jetting in from New Zealand to join his new team-mates

  • 11/07/00 - Clubs wait on council approval

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have moved a step closer to winning their battle for promotion to the Premiership One. Club chairman Cecil Duckworth attended the annual meeting of the Rugby Football Union, at which clubs voted overwhelmingly in favour of a two-up-two-down

  • 01/07/00 - Back to northern roots

    ROB Myler has ended a two-and-half year spell at Sixways by deciding on a return to the North West. The 30-year-old utility back has had offers to play both rugby league and rugby union and will decide his future in the next few days. Myler became the

  • 24/6/00 - Sixways goes pop as club looks to cash in

    WORCESTER Rugby Club is hoping to stake a new claim to fame -- as a music venue. Sixways goes pop for the first time next Friday (June 30) when it stages its first-ever open-air pop concert, when Abba Gold, a tribute band to Swedish superstars Abba, take

  • 23/6/00 - Reivers cancel Sixways friendly

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have been forced to rearrange their friendly fixture for their open day in August. They were due to play the Scottish super District Edinburgh Reivers but the Scots have pulled due to the unavailability of many of their players. Worcester

  • Sorry seems to be the hardest word

    IF you're left shaking your head by the crisis facing student nurses at Worcester's new hospital, then imagine how they feel themselves. They have six months to find places to live, after student accommodation was left out of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals

  • 22/6/00 - Samoan star for Sixways

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have taken their total of close season signings to seven by recruiting two more players. Samoan international fly-half Earl Va'a has been snapped up from Italian club L'Aquila, while left-winger Spencer Bromley has arrived from Irish

  • 17/6/00 - Time runs out for Jenner at Sixways

    JIM Jenner said he left Worcester because time was against his chances of reaching Premiership One without a transfer. The 28-year-old has agreed a one-year deal with Rob Andrew's Newcastle Falcons ending a spell of three seasons at Sixways. His departure

  • 16/6/00 - Falcons in swoop for Jenner

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have been dealt another blow with number eight Jim Jenner signing for Premiership One Newcastle. The 28-year-old has ended three successful seasons at Sixways by signing a one-year deal with Rob Andrew's side. Since joining Worcester

  • 14/06/00 - No need to panic says Duckworth

    CECIL Duckworth has told the Worcester fans not to panic despite a number of high profile departures this summer. And the club chairman said he is in for the long haul with rugby despite off-the-field politics claiming the bulk of the headlines during

  • 06/06/00 - Higgins named in New Zealand tour party

    Worcester centre Andy Higgins has been selected for the England U21s tour of New Zealand. The 18-year-old centre has recovered from the wrist injury that kept him side-lined for the last few weeks of the season and will leave with England on June 15.

  • 3/6/00 - Collins set for Henley switch

    PROP Andy Collins looks set to move to Henley Hawks after just three months at Worcester Rugby Club. The Oxford University student is hoping to start a job in the Henley area after graduation this summer. The 25-year-old became a regular fixture in the

  • 2/6/00 - Sixways hit as Maynard jumps ship

    GEOFF Cooke is to take complete charge of the playing side of Worcester Rugby Club following the departure of Phil Maynard. But a new coach will also be brought to help Cooke with the workload after Maynard decided to quit Worcester and become director

  • Birmingham & Solihull 26 Worcester 26

    Saturday, April 28, 2001 IN a game billed as one for professional pride, it was the amateurs who took all the glory. Worcester ended their season with a 26-26 draw against relegation threatened Birmingham & Solihull - a result which was even more

  • Worcester 67 Orrell 13

    Saturday, April 14, 2001 IF you wanted one game which summed up the reasons for Worcester Rugby Club's puzzling inconsistencies you would be hard-pressed to find a better example than on Saturday. Orrell - National One's second worst team - came to Sixways

  • Worcester 27 Manchester 8

    Saturday, March 17, 2001 THEY say that the mediocre can only stay at the same level all the time. That particular description surely cannot be levelled at Worcester who, on Saturday, once again showed their ability to frustrate and exhilarate in equal

  • Bedford 14 Worcester 32

    Saturday, March 10, 2001 WORCESTER side-stepped a potential banana skin of a game to leave Bedford sliding towards the relegation zone on Saturday with a comfortable 32-14 victory. In a match which was always going to be tough with Bedford old boys Alistair

  • Worcester 30 Waterloo 18

    Saturday, February 3, 2001 THE jeers said it all as Worcester's professionals trudged off the sodden Sixways turf yesterday after once again frustrating the home crowd. The National One leaders were not only swamped by the rainstorm which engulfed the

  • 9/7/01 - Death of Chester Road stalwart

    KIDDERMINSTER Cricket Club groundsman Denis Jones, who prepared the pitch for Worcestershire's matches at Chester Road, has died, aged 63. When the County returned to play at the Birmingham League club's headquarters in 1987, after a break of 14 years

  • Worcester 56 Henley 18

    Saturday, January 20, 2001 SCOTT Barrow announced himself on the Union stage with a stunning display as Worcester Rugby Club ran out 56-18 winners over Henley Hawks to keep them top of National One. The 20-year-old, who moved to Sixways from Rugby League

  • Worcester 51 London Welsh 3

    Saturday, December 16, 2000 WORCESTER'S players spent their spare time sleeping last week such was the intensity of training but London Welsh will just be glad that their Sixways nightmare is over for another season. The National One leaders were in dreamland

  • Worcester 21 Birmingham & Solihull 16

    Monday, December 4, 2000. THREE players were sin-binned after a brawl at Sixways yesterday but it was not enough to knock Worcester out of their stride as they got the decision on points - 21-16. The heavyweight clash between the Gold'n'Blues and visiting

  • London Welsh 12 Worcester 29

    Saturday, November 25, 2000 CHAMPIONS elect Worcester opened an 11-point lead over second-placed Leeds Tykes at the top of National One with an outstanding display as London Welsh's fire fizzled out in the rain on Saturday. The Sixways side scored five

  • Saracens 42 Worcester 13

    Sunday, November 12, 2000 WORCESTER Rugby Club's Tetley's Bitter Cup hopes fizzled out yesterday when they went down 42-13 to a slick Saracens side at Vicarage Road. However, despite the hefty defeat, Adrian Skeggs' side enjoyed some good moments and

  • Tynedale 12 Worcester 76

    Saturday, November 4, 2000 A GAME which had been described as a banana skin turned into more of a pineapple crush as Worcester swept aside Tynedale 76-12 to set up a mouth-watering fruit cocktail of a fixture at Saracens on Sun-day. The Tetley Bitter

  • Waterloo 19 Worcester 32

    Saturday, October 28, 2000 WORCESTER were singing in the rain as they kept up their 100 per cent record in Nat-ional Division One with a 32-19 win at Waterloo on Saturday. Adrian Skeggs' men dominated from the off with a solid first-half display and at

  • Coventry 17 Worcester 34

    Saturday, October 7, 2000. WORCESTER Rugby Club were in seventh heaven on Saturday after ending their Coventry hoodoo with a 34-17 win at Barkers Butts Lane. The Sixways side lead the Nat-ional League Division One table by seven points after just five

  • Worcester 40 Leeds 13

    Saturday, September 16, 2000 ADRIAN Skeggs described his side's performance as sensational after watching Worcester Rugby Club sweep aside title rivals Leeds Tykes 40-13 on Saturday. The Sixways director of coaching, in charge of his first home National

  • Orrell 8 Worcester 47

    Saturday, September 9, 2000. WORCESTER Rugby Club threw the gauntlet down to Leeds Tykes with a powerful 47-8 demolition of Orrell at Edge Hall Road on Saturday. The Sixways side ran in eight tries in the one-sided affair as Worcester showed just why

  • Melrose 3 Worcester 17

    Sunday, August 17, 2000 TRIES from second row Gavin Webster and wing Sateki Tuipulotu helped Worcester to a convincing 3-17 victory over Melrose. Worcester's first win of the season came after a solid and mature performance from the entire team, with

  • Death of Chester Road stalwart

    KIDDERMINSTER Cricket Club groundsman Denis Jones, who prepared the pitch for Worcestershire's matches at Chester Road, has died, aged 63. When the County returned to play at the Birmingham League club's headquarters in 1987, after a break of 14 years

  • Colwall edge through

    COLWALL edged through to the last 16 of the Wadworth Six X National Village Cricket Championship when they beat Northamptonshire side Isham by one wicket yesterday. In a thrilling finish, Colwall's last wicket pair of Damien Berry and Stuart Bailey figured

  • Loder goes Cherry picking

    ROYAL Ascot may have been an anti-climax for David Loder but he will be going all out to ensure that Newmarket's July meeting does not end up the same way. Loder's two-year-old team, the juvenile academy of the Godolphin operation, are carrying all before

  • 9/2/01 - Irish trip key to Worcester's bid

    JOHN Brain is banking on the Emerald Isle to unearth treasured team spirit at Worcester Rugby Club. The new Sixways head coach has booked his first team squad into Dublin City University next month for vital team bonding ahead of their season in National

  • 2001/2002 squad

    The Worcester first team squad for the 2001/2002 season is: Sateki Tuipulotu (Tonga), * Ben Hinshelwood, # Alistair Murdoch (Australia), * Chris Garrard, *# Winston Stanley (Canada), * Duncan Roke, Scott Barrow, * Chris Yates, Greg Meredith, Tony Yapp

  • Bored kids could be having the time of their lives this summer

    THE end of the summer term is nigh and the usual cry from Vale parents - "What are we going to do with the kids for the next six weeks," is a phrase no doubt popping up in scores of households. One idea that may not immediately come to mind, but will

  • 2001/2002 season

    The new season's coverage will appear here - in the meantime you can read reports from previous seasons in the archive section.

  • 3/5/01 - Lack of desire cost us victory

    THE players deserved all the criticism they received after their performance at Birmingham & Solihull on Saturday. I watched the video of the game earlier this week and it was even worse second time around! We drew the game 26-26 but the most disappointing

  • 19/4/01 - Good start will be crucial in derby

    MOSELEY are visiting us for an National League Division One local 'derby' on Saturday -- and we know exactly what we've got to do! And that's to make a far better start than we did last Saturday when we entertained Orrell here at Sixways. More comments

  • 12/4/01 - Mental scars of Leeds have started to heal

    WE go into Saturday's Orrell clash with renewed hope and optimism after a week without a game. The days following the Leeds game were important ones for everyone at Worcester not just because of the disappointment involved, but also for how we reacted

  • 22/3/01 - We need to go up another gear for title test

    WE all pride ourselves on our honesty at Worcester in the way we look at our performances. Even though we beat Manchester comfortably at the weekend, there were many aspects of our play that need tightening up before we go head to head with Leeds on April

  • 8/3/01 - Return Bedford trip for Alistair and co

    IT is a game of reunions for many when we travel to Bedford on Saturday. Alistair Murdoch makes his first return to the Goldington Road ground club who he served so well for three years until last summer. Dan Zaltzman and Dave Sims are former players

  • 1/3/01 - Spirit helped us bag bonus point

    I was delighted with the way the boys responded to the disappointment of Henley with a rousing display against Coventry on Saturday. They came in for some criticism after their poor showing at Dry Leas and they were the first to admit they were lucky

  • 22/2/01 - Title bid would be sunk if we start to panic

    THERE can be no excuses for the team's performance at Henley on Sunday. We got out of jail with the 16-13 win but I took absolutely no pleasure from the game whatsoever. I don't coach what they did on the pitch and the players knew they had let themselves

  • 15/2/01 - Training camp has made us a more solid unit

    WE go into Sunday's clash at Henley probably with the best spirit in the camp ever as we prepare for the final National One run-in. The training camp in Spain has proved to be a huge success with the players even closer than they were before they flew

  • 8/2/01 - Positive thinking can help us take the title

    EVERYBODY in the camp is extraordinarily positive in preparation for our trip to Wakefield on Saturday. We go into the clash nine points ahead of the rest in National One and with the mid-season break to Malaga just around the corner. The players are

  • 1/2/02 - Battle of Waterloo will be a real test for boys

    MAKE no mistake about it, Sunday's battle with Waterloo will be a test for the guys despite their lowly league position. We go into the game still as leaders of National One by five points after a solid performance at Exeter at the weekend. The pressure

  • 25/1/01 - Henley victory gives us a new platform

    THE buzz is back at the club after two superb results this week. Saturday's 56-18 victory over Henley was followed up on Tuesday night by the Warriors' 34-12 win at Northampton. The two gave me equal amounts of pleasure but, of course, the spotlight was

  • 4/01/01 - Snow worries with our superb facilities

    AFTER a frustrating week for us we get back to action on Saturday when we face Exeter Chiefs at Sixways in National One. We were hoping to go into the New Year with another win under our belts before the weather put paid to our fixture at Henley at the

  • 21/12/00 - Welsh win was a big boost to confidence

    WE go into the Christmas break with a good feeling at the club after recording a convincing 51-3 win over London Welsh at the weekend. I was delighted with the way the side reacted to the defeat at Moseley because it is always a good test of a team to

  • 14/12/00 - One slip will not make me start to panic

    PEOPLE who are now predicting the roof will fall in on Worcester Rugby Club after our first league defeat on Saturday are way off the mark. It was very disappointing to lose to Moseley and the performance was the worst so far this season but I think we

  • 2/11/00 - Team need to show their steel

    SATURDAY'S Tetley Bitter Cup test at Tynedale is a potential banana skin of a tie and it is important the players guard against complacency in Northumberland. We travel to the North East with the carrot of a fifth round match at Saracens if we are successful

  • 26/10/00 - Expect changes for the Battle of Waterloo

    WE had some bad news this week when Earl Va'a was diagnosed with a fractured thumb and will be out for three weeks. It is very disappointing for Earl but we are hoping he can be ready for the Saracens match if we come through our Tetley Bitter Cup fourth

  • 19/10/00 - Cup tie should put us back on song

    FIRSTLY I'd like to apologise to the supporters for the shambles they saw at Sixways on Saturday -- I would have bought each and every one of them a pint if I could have. Worcester beat Wakefield 22-3 but I was absolutely shattered by the performance

  • 12/10/00 - Defence is the key

    IT'S time for us to get back to basics when we welcome Wakefield to Sixways on Saturday. I think we have treated the Worcester crowd to a good display against Leeds Tykes but a pretty average show against Bedford so far this season so I am hoping the

  • 28/9/00 - Blues in town for a game to savour

    WE welcome my old club Bedford Blues to Sixways on Saturday -- and we will be in good spirits after a workman-like performance against Manchester at the weekend. One of the good things about the victory is that we did our talking on the pitch rather than

  • 14/9/00 - Players need to remain focused

    LOOKING ahead to Saturday's big game with Leeds Tykes, my job this week has been to make sure the players do not get carried away with the hype surrounding the match. Leeds, Worcester and Rotherham were the top sides in Premiership Two last season and

  • Parents who find talking difficult

    MANY of your readers will know how frustrating it can be for everyone when communication breaks down in a family. Here at Parentline Plus we receive tens of thousands of calls every year from parents who want to talk but find it too difficult. Parentline

  • Raise an issue

    RECENTLY, I wrote to raise an issue with you about your rose bush offer. You responded by arranging for me to have a rose bush. I just wish to thank you for your response, and to let you know that I have collected the bush. I am extremely pleased with

  • Doing a Dr Beeching with NHS

    AUGUST 7, 1999 was a significant day in my death. At 4am on that day, my daughter drove me to A&E Ronkswood as fast as she could. If I had waited for an ambulance to find my address on this relatively new estate, and had she stuck to the speed limits

  • 'Popping off on junket' jibe disgraceful insult

    I FEEL I must support my colleague Councillor Gary Kibblewhite following criticism of him in County Commentary on July 2, 2001. Is Paul Stammers really suggesting that city councillors should act in isolation, ignoring the lessons to be learnt from, and

  • 8/7/01 - County ease to second victory

    WORCESTERSHIRE wrapped up their second CricInfo County Championship Division Two triumph of the season when they beat Derbyshire by an innings and three runs. Rob Bailey did his best to frustrate the County's march towards victory with his first century

  • 31/5/01 - Cooke goes Cherry picking!

    PREMIERSHIP star Chris Yates is the latest big-name star to be snapped up by Worcester Rugby Club. The 29-year-old centre, who was not offered a new contract by Gloucester coach Philippe Saint-Andre at the end of the season, moves to Sixways after two

  • 29/5/01 - Sixways swoop for Ebbw Vale ace

    WORCESTER Rugby Club's promotion bid has been boosted with the capture of Welsh international Richard Smith. The former Ebbw Vale scrum-half will sign for the Sixways club this week as Worcester look to finally clinch a place in the Zurich Premiership

  • 26/5/01 - Barrow eager for return to big time

    SCOTT Barrow is determined to make it back to the big time next season with Worcester Rugby Club. The 20-year-old centre, who was out of contract when the season ended, has agreed to sign a new deal with the Sixways club in a bid to make it into rugby

  • 31/5/00 - Captain Fenley quits Sixways

    BRUCE Fenley, arguably the most successful captain in Worcester Rugby Club's history, is leaving to become a player/coach at Stourbridge. The 31-year-old scrum-half has ended a four-year spell at Sixways because he wants to extend his playing career.

  • 25/5/01 - Higgins completes Bristol switch

    ANDREW HIGGINS, the England Under 21 centre, has completed his move from Worcester Rugby Club to Premiership Bristol Shoguns. The 19-year-old, who only played in two games for the Sixways club last season because of injuries, has been included in the

  • 31/5/00 - Cecil the new division two chief

    WORCESTER Rugby Club's influence in the sport has been boosted by chairman Cecil Duckworth being elected as chairman of English Second Division Rugby (ESDR). Duckworth was voted into the post at ESDR's annual meeting at the Worcester club's Sixways headquarters

  • 30/5/00 - Duckworth set for legal action

    WORCESTER Rugby Club's millionaire backer Cecil Duckworth is threatening to sue the Rugby Football Union if the right to promotion is taken away from the second division. The club's chairman hosts the annual meeting of English Second Division Rugby (ESDR

  • 23/5/01 - New deal for Barrow

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have fought off interest from Super League giants Leeds and Halifax to clinch the signature of Scott Barrow. The 20-year-old, who was out of contract after the season ended, will sign a new deal with the Sixways club as Worcester

  • 27/5/00 - Raymond returns to his roots after fine career

    CHRIS Raymond's return to Old Patesians means his rugby career has now come full circle. The South West division one side is where the 32-year-old Worcester Rugby Club lock began his career and it will now be the place where he will eventually hang up

  • 23/5/01 - Jenner wants to come back

    JIM Jenner has admitted he "would love" to help Worcester Rugby Club into the Premiership. The 29-year-old, who is out of contract after being released by Newcastle Falcons, is set to hold talks with Worcester chairman Cecil Duckworth this week about

  • 19/5/01 - Chris hits out

    FORMER Worcester Rugby Club scrum-half Chris Simpson-Daniel believes Adrian Skeggs' foreign legion drove him out of Sixways. The 22-year-old, who will play for Bristol in the Zurich Premiership next season, said he felt harshly treated by the coach after

  • 18/5/01 - Sixways quartet go off on tour

    Three members of Worcester Rugby Club's ladies' first team will leave for a four-week tour of Australia and New Zealand this weekend. Wing Nicola Crawford, scrum half Joanne Yapp and hooker Nicola Goodwin are all included in the 28-strong England squad

  • 26/5/00 - Harvey shock at Worcester release

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have released England 'Sevens' star Ben Harvey. The 25-year-old scrum-half, who was converted to a stand-off earlier this season, said he was 'shocked' by the news. His contract expires this summer and he received a letter from Geoff

  • 17/5/01 - Sims to pledge Sixways future

    FORMER England star Dave Sims is the latest big name star to pledge his future to Worcester Rugby Club. The popular lock will put pen to paper on a new deal next week after being offered a contract by Geoff Cooke. Sims, who enjoyed an outstanding season

  • 9/5/00 - Maynard stays cool on Stourbridge link

    PHIL Maynard has poured cold water on rumours he is about to leave Worcester Rugby Club for Stourbridge. The Sixways director of player management said he is about to hold talks on his future role at Worcester and not jump ship. Maynard has been involved

  • 16/5/01 - French third for Sixways' girls

    FOUR members of Worcester Rugby Club's ladies team helped England to third place at the European Championships following a 34-26 victory over France. Centre Karen Andrew, hooker Nicola Goodwin, number eight Jaine Lock and flanker Alex Pilkington all played

  • 8/5/00 - Cooke admits side were second best

    MOSELEY recovered from a nervous start to score a deserved 34-17 victory in their final game at The Red-dings. With the weight of 120 years of history bearing down on them they were predictably shaky and spent the first 20 minutes on the back foot despite

  • 8/5/00 - Hughes and Connolly are released

    TWO of Worcester Rugby Club's loan rangers at Bedford will not be coming back to Sixways. Centre Jamie Connolly and utility back Duncan Hughes have both received letters stating their contracts will not be renewed in the summer. The pair went to Premiership

  • 29/4/00 - Chris looking to end his injury nightmare

    WORCESTER Rugby Club scrum-half Chris Simpson-Daniel is living on borrowed time - and he knows it. At 21 he is one of the club's youngsters but has already been through enough injury anguish to wear out a grizzled veteran. A cruciate knee ligament injury

  • Injuries pile on agony at Sixways

    WORCESTER Rugby Club will be without captain Richard Denhardt and Tongans Sateki Tuipulotu and Sililo Martens for the rest of the season. Denhardt and Tuipulotu were both injured during Saturday's disastrous 21-15 defeat at struggling Rugby Lions. The

  • 16/5/01 - Ben considers Sixways offer

    BEN Clarke has emerged as one of the favourites to take over from Adrian Skeggs at Worcester Rugby Club. The 33-year-old former England player is out of contract at Bath in the summer, and he is believed to be considering an offer of a player-coach role

  • 21/4/00 - Cooke sticks by his players

    GEOFF Cooke's fresh approach to the Worcester team sees 21-year-old scrum-half Chris Simpson-Daniel make his debut for the first team. The former Gloucester half-back starts at Rugby Lions tomorrow in Cooke's second team since taking temporary charge

  • 15/5/01 - Murdoch says he stays

    WORCESTER Rugby Club captain Alistair Murdoch said he was disappointed that coach Adrian Skeggs was leaving but would not be following him though the exit door. Murdoch, who brought Skeggs to Bedford as his assistant coach last season, is keen to stay

  • 20/4/00 - Amateur values at heart of club

    WORCESTER Rugby Club will have two teams playing in league rugby next season following the formation of a new amateur club. The new set-up, which will be launched at an inaugural AGM next month, will start life in North Midlands Three and aims to become

  • 18/4/00 - Duckworth to wait for new coach

    CECIL Duckworth has ruled out signing a big name coach until the summer despite the temptation of an array of star names. Stars including Joel Stransky, Ellery Hanley and Richard Hill have all been linked to new coaching roles since Worcester sacked Les

  • 17/4/00 - Cooke opens up with win

    GEOFF Cooke's first match in charge of Wor-cester Rugby Club saw the team score a comfortable 30-8 victory over mid-table Henley. In a low key affair, they were able to restore some confidence after last week's mauling at the hands of Premiership Two

  • 5/5/01 - Four selected

    Four members of Worcester Rugby Club's ladies' first team are off to France for the European Championships today. Number eight Jaine Lock, flanker Alex Pilkington, hooker Nicola Goodwin and centre Karen Andrew are part of the 24-strong England Select

  • 30/4/01 - Four new players needed

    WORCESTER Rugby Club skipper Alistair Murdoch blamed the players' attitudes for their lack-lustre showing in Saturday's draw at Solihull. The Australian was disappointed with his side's show during the 26-26 stalemate and said the performance was just

  • 13/4/00 - Higgins to miss Cooke's debut

    GEOFF Cooke will be without star centre Andrew Higgins for his first game in charge of Worcester's first team. Higgins is the only name absent from Worcester's 23-man squad to face Henley Hawks at Sixways on Saturday. He will miss the next three matches

  • 13/4/00 - Worcester back promotion battle

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have joined forces with their second division rivals to maintain their right to automatic promotion into the top-flight. They are also asking the Rugby Football Union why franchises must be a key element of Rob Andrew's blueprint

  • 28/4/01 - Hall can shine

    CHRIS Hall has the potential to go all the way in the game, according to Worcester Rugby Club coach Adrian Skeggs. The hooker, who has been Andrew Lamerton's deputy for most of the season, enjoyed another solid display against Moseley on Saturday and

  • 12/04/00 - Spirits need to be lifted

    GEOFF Cooke took his first training session at Sixways yesterday aiming to lift a squad rocked by the sacking of Les Cusworth. And the former England coach is looking for a quick response from the side which lost 42-0 at Rotherham on Saturday -- just

  • 26/4/01 - Warren called up for debut

    TOM Warren has been handed his full debut after his super-sub display against Moseley. The 20-year-old comes in for his first start in a Worcester Rugby Club shirt for the Gold'n'Blues' final National One game of the season at Birmingham & Solihull

  • 23/4/01 - Warren signals Sixways arrival

    SUPER-SUB Tom Warren's Christmases all came at once when he announced himself to Worcester fans with a sparkling Sixways debut. The 20-year-old flanker scored with his first touch after coming on during Worcester's 43-17 win over Moseley. However, the

  • 10/4/00 - Worcester slide to heavy defeat

    WORCESTER Rugby Club are to miss out on promotion for the second year running after suffering a humbling 42-0 defeat at leaders Rotherham. The match pitched together first and third in Allied Dunbar Premiership Two, but it looked more like another mismatch

  • 8/4/00 - Walker keen to turn the tables

    WINGER Mat Walker believes Worcester can do what no club has managed for three seasons, beat Rotherham at Clifton Lane. The 21-year-old winger moved to Sixways from Rotherham in the summer so knows the vagaries of the ground where the Yorkshiremen have

  • 21/4/01 - Sixways stars are ready to celebrate

    A HOST of Worcester rugby stars from the past and the present are set to do battle later this month to celebrate President's Day. Outgoing President Dick Cumming has arranged a day of rugby action on Sunday April 29 the highlight of which is set to be

  • 20/4/01 - Baxter back to face Moseley

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have drafted Nick Baxter into their starting line-up for tomorrow's National League Division One clash with rivals Moseley at Sixways (3pm). The flying winger has regained his place after scoring two tries in last Saturday's 67-13

  • 18/4/01 - Merlin hangs up boots

    WORCESTER Rugby Club number eight David Merlin has announced his retirement from professional rugby at the end of this season. Merlin, who celebrates his 29th birthday on Sunday, has been on loan to Stourbridge for most of this season but has missed match

  • 17/4/01 - Skeggs happy after revival victory

    ADRIAN Skeggs described Worcester Rugby Club's phenomenal second-half display as "the best of the season" as his side swamped Orrell 67-13. Worcester found themselves 13-10 down at the break to a battling Orrell team fighting for their National One lives

  • 14/4/01 - Skeggs target

    WORCESTER Rugby Club's coach Adrian Skeggs says the devastating defeat at Leeds has made him more determined to succeed. The Australian, who only arrived at Sixways last summer, has led his side to second place in National One and a points tally that

  • 10/4/01 - Bid for Wasps is laid to rest

    CECIL Duckworth has ruled out a takeover bid for Wasps after the Zurich Premiership club's financial future was secured. Worcester Rugby Club's benefactor made an inquiry over the club last week but after a rescue package was put together by former owner

  • 9/4/01 - Hat-trick hero Crawford

    THREE tries from Worcester wing Nicky Crawford helped England to a 50 - 6 victory over France in the Six Nations Championship at Northampton yesterday. England's secured the Six Nations Championship crown with a thrilling victory over the European Champions

  • 6/4/00 - Worcester shuffle pack

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have shuffled their pack to conjure up a mixture of youth and experience as they aim to break Rotherham's three-year unbeaten home run. The Sixways men must win at Clifton Lane to have even the slimmest hope of catching the Premiership

  • 1/4/00 - Harvey's flair is paying off

    THERE are steady eddies and flamboyant mavericks and Ben Harvey is certainly the latter. With just six months experience at stand-off he is not a safe pair of hands who has seen it all before. But the 25-year-old former Richmond scrum-half brings an attacking

  • 4/4/01 - Baxter snatches Sixways brace

    THE North Midlands President's XV put up spirited resistance before they were beaten 59-24 by a star-studded Crawshay's Welsh XV at Worcester's Sixways ground last night. Crawshay's, the Welsh Barbarians, included six full internationals in Matthew Cardey

  • Yapp faces Birmingham/Solihull

    STAND-off Tony Yapp, flanker Nathan Carter and centre Andy Currier will all play for Worcester's development side at Birmingham/Solihull seconds on Saturday. They are among the first team regulars included in a young squad which faces a stern test at

  • 3/4/01 - Higgins ready for comeback

    Worcester centre Andy Higgins returns to competitive rugby at Sixways tonight after being named in the North Midlands President's XV to take on Crawshays (7.30). Higgins has been named in the starting line-up alongside fellow Worcester players Mathew

  • 2/4/01 - Cooke pays tribute to the Worcester fans

    WORCESTER's chief executive Geoff Cooke admitted he will face a tough task to raise his players for the final three National One games of the season. The former England manager saw his side lose the crunch clash at Leeds yesterday, a defeat that practically

  • 24/3/00 - Harvey has key role at Sixways

    STAND-OFF Ben Harvey has been rewarded for his fine second-half display against Exeter with a call-up to the number ten berth for tomorrow's clash with London Welsh at Sixways (3pm). Premiership Two's leading scorer, Tony Yapp, had an uncertain first-half

  • 2/4/01 - Skeggs takes it on the chin

    ADRIAN Skeggs has conceded defeat in Worcester Rugby Club's quest for promotion after yesterday's devastating defeat at Leeds Tykes. Worcester's director of coaching saw his side outplayed by the new National One leaders and red-hot favourites for promotion

  • 31/3/01 - Worcester hand out warning to Tuipulotu

    SATEKI Tuipulotu has been warned to keep his cool on his return to Headingley tomorrow by coach Adrian Skeggs. The Tongan international makes his second trip back to Leeds since his move to Worcester and will want to improve on his last visit there when

  • 21/3/00 - Higgins in England cup squad

    WORCESTER centre Andrew Higgins has received yet another England call-up after being drafted into the Under 19s squad for the FIRA Youth World Cup in May. The 19-year-old has already played for England Under 21s and trained with the full England squad

  • 18/03/00 - Lyman keeps in touch with KCs

    NEIL Lyman may have the trappings of a professional sportsman's life -- but he has not forgotten the club which helped start his career. The prop forward's first taste of club rugby came at Kidderminster Carolians, the newly crowned champions of Midlands

  • 29/3/01 - Simpson-Daniel misses big game after car crash

    CHRIS Simpson-Daniel has been ruled out of Worcester's National One showdown at Leeds on Sunday after crashing his car. The scrum-half drove into a tree near his home and after whiplash injuries were diagnosed early this week, the former England under

  • 29/3/01 - Promotion row finally resolved

    THE long running saga over relegation and promotion to the Zurich Premiership has finally been resolved. English Second Division Rugby (ESDR) agreed yesterday to one automatic promotion place for the winners of National One for this season and next. The

  • 28/3/01 - Howard called up to lift title bid

    FORMER Leeds Rhinos star Harvey Howard could play a vital part in the Tykes downfall after being drafted into the Worcester Rugby Club squad. Worcester's director of coaching, Adrian Skeggs has brought in long-time friend Howard as a secret weapon to

  • 14/03/00 - Half-back pair to add experience

    THE experienced half-back partnership of Ben Harvey and Sililo Martens are to guide a young Worcester development side through a tough fixture against the Army tonight. The stand-off and scrum-half are two of just three players with regular first team

  • 27/3/01 - My job's on the line -- Skeggs

    ADRIAN Skeggs has admitted for the first time that he could be facing the axe if Worcester Rugby Club lose at Leeds on Sunday. The Sixways director of coaching was only appointed in the summer, but feels he may be out the door if his side fail to win

  • 13/03/00 - Defeat hits players hard

    The effect on Worcester Rugby Club of the most dramatic and possibly most far reaching four-and-a-half minutes of the season, was cataclysmic. Stunned silence from their travelling fans greeted the stoppage time try which virtually finished their chance

  • 11/3/00 - Seeing stars in Sixways' sides

    THE gateway to international stardom -- that's Worcester Rugby Club. And when it comes to top honours it's the talented Sixways ladies who are leading the way. The club can boast a number of internationals and more could soon be joining their ranks. Sixways

  • 10/3/00 - Denham poised for debut

    FLANKER Lee Denham could be handed a late birthday present by Worcester director of rugby Les Cusworth. The recent signing from title rivals Leeds, who celebrated his 26th birthday earlier this week, is in line to make his Allied Dunbar Premiership Division

  • 26/3/01 - Welsh aces to play at Sixways

    WORCESTERSHIRE rugby fans will have a rare opportunity to see the Crawshay's Welsh XV, one of the world's leading touring clubs, in action at Worcester's Sixways ground on Tuesday, April 3 (7.30pm). Crawshay's make a few visits to England these days,

  • 9/3/00 - Higgins handed England call-up

    WORCESTER Rugby Club's talented teenage centre Andy Higgins is celebrating a surprise England call-up. The 18-year-old has been drafted into the full England squad for next week's Six Nations Championship clash with Italy in Rome. Higgins, the first Worcester

  • 24/3/01 - Moretti magic

    ADRIAN Skeggs believ-es Andrea Moretti has come back from the nightmare of Moseley. Worcester Rugby Club's director of coaching has seen the Italian over the past couple of months put that dismal substitute display at Bournbrook out of his mind to re-turn

  • 7/3/00 - Worcester name 24-strong squad

    WORCESTER Rugby Club have named a 24-strong squad from which the team will be selected to face Coventry in the Allied Dunbar Premiership Division Two at Coundon Road on Saturday. The Sixways club are currently second in the table, two points leaders Rotherham

  • 20/3/01 - Baister must go says Duckworth

    THE war of words over relegation and promotion to rugby's elite escalated last night when English Second Division Rugby called for Rugby Football Union chairman Brian Baister to resign. ESDR chairman and Worcester benefactor Cecil Duckworth stunned RFU

  • 4/3/00 - Higgins on fast track to England first team

    FROM the moment anyone starts a new sport they start dreaming of the ultimate -- to represent their country. And in centre Andrew Higgins Worcester have a teenager making giant strides towards what is usually just a flight of fancy for the vast majority

  • 16/3/01 - Sims to play on through the pain

    DAVE Sims has vowed to play on through the pain for Worcester despite the loss of his father. The lock will take his place in the Worcester line-up to face Manchester tomorrow (3pm), and will dedicate the season to his dad's memory. John Sims passed away

  • 01/03/00 - Friendly place for latest signings

    NEW signings Lee Denham and Andy Collins are both set to start their first games for Worcester tonight in the friendly at Bristol (7.30pm). Oxford student Collins came on as a replacement and scored a try during Saturday's 41-32 victory over Wakefield

  • 15/3/01 - Back hit by fine for throwing his shirt

    MATHEW Back has been bit by a 'substantial fine' after throwing his Worcester jersey to the floor in anger. The former Welsh international's frustration got the better of him at Bedford on Saturday when he threw his shirt on the ground after being substituted

  • 29/2/00 - Higgins back in England U21 line-up

    WORCESTER centre Andy Higgins has been selected for the England Under 21s to face Wales at New Brighton on Friday. It will be the 18-year-old's third appearance in the Six Nations after victory over Ireland and a defeat in France. Worcester Ladies players

  • 28/2/00 - Worcester back on track for title

    WORCESTER Rugby Club are back in the promotion race after emerging unscathed from a ten-try thriller against Wakefield at Sixways. They were sometimes brilliant in attack and then leaky in defence but moved into second place in Premiership Two with a

  • 26/2/00 - Mixed memories

    WORCESTER have sign-ed some big name players and internationals this season yet have experienced the triumph and tragedy prop Andy Collins has witnessed at Twickenham. For the 25-year-old former Bristol and Pontypridd forward, who moved the Sixways this

  • 10/3/01 - Higgins could be out for season

    ADRIAN Skeggs has ruled out a rapid Worcester first-team comeback for Andy Higgins and could keep the player out for the rest of the season. The director of rugby at Sixways has been nursing the 19-year-old back into training this month after he made

  • 25/2/00 - Harvey called up at fly-half

    BEN Harvey is drafted into Worcester Rugby Club's team for tomorrow's Allied Dunbar Premiership Two match against Wakefield at Sixways (3pm). He replaces Tony Yapp at Fly-half, while Sililo Martens takes over on the wing from Nick Baxter who is a replacement

  • 24/2/00 - Devereux leaves Sixways

    BACK row forward Simon Devereux is considering his future in rugby after becoming the latest casualty of the upheavals at Worcester. The 31-year-old former Glou-cester star has been removed from the first team squad and may quit the game altogether. He