A FAMILY of Worcester Warriors fans are set to be reunited in Russia this weekend.

Roger Smith, of Pershore, and his 20-year-old grandson Harry Dyson will be among “a handful” of Warriors supporters making a trip into the unknown to Moscow for their side’s European Challenge Cup encounter.

As well as watching Worcester in action against Enisei-STM at the Slava Stadium on Saturday, Smith, 78, said the reason for going was to meet up with his son Mark.

The 47-year-old has been working for Shell in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on the Russian island Sakhalin, near Japan, for the past 18 months and has not seen his dad and nephew Harry Dyson since October last year.

“Mark has got quite a long way to go as well but he wanted to go to the match, so that was the deciding factor for Harry and I to go,” Smith said.

“It’s a good chance to see family and watch some good rugby. I really don’t know how strong Enisei are but, if we send a reasonable side out, we should win.”

Smith, who has been a Warriors season-ticket holder for more than 10 years, said they started planning for the trip six weeks ago and are now looking forward to setting off from Heathrow tomorrow.

“It’s been quite difficult and quite expensive to get our visas,” he said.

“We had to fill in forms online, which took some time, and travelled to London to visit the Russian federation tourist office where they took our fingerprints. But they were very efficient.”

Smith added: “We will be heading out tomorrow, watch the match on Saturday and then do some sight-seeing on Sunday.

“I suspect we will have a vodka or two at some point as well.”

It is understood at least seven fans will be travelling to the Russian capital to get behind Warriors, who will be looking to get their European campaign off to a winning start.

Worcester City Council leader Adrian Gregson, who has seen the Sixways side play in Romania, France, Italy and Spain, will also be flying out with a friend.

“I am among a number of people who follow Warriors in the European competitions,” he said.

“I certainly could not miss an opportunity to go to Russia and experience what it was like.

“We have had hundreds of people travelling before but on this occasion I am going with a friend and there are only a handful of others who are likely to be there as well.

“As far as fans are concerned, the aim of these European trips is to enjoy each other’s company, meet the local fans who are always very welcoming and experience different food and wine.

“It’s more than just a two-hour match. But we will certainly make sure they know where we are from.”