THE Scottish Rugby Union are rumoured to be interested in investing in Worcester Warriors.

According to The Rugby Paper, the SRU could take a controlling interest in Warriors who have been put up for sale by owners Sixways Holdings Limited.

The Aviva Premiership outfit have reportedly been valued at 26.7million.

But the national report understands the freehold of the 50-acre Sixways site. which has a book value of £17million, is not included in the deal with the SRU.

It has also been suggested Warriors could act as a base for Scottish players aiming to play in England’s top flight.

The SRU owns and funds Pro 14 sides Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors and had a development partnership with London Scottish where the Championship club provided opportunities for young Scots.

This summer the union confirmed they had broken the £50million turnover mark for the first time and had achieved a surplus of £1.7million in the 2016/17 financial year.

Warriors have refused to comment, while a spokesman from SRU added: “Scottish Rugby does not comment on media speculation about its respective areas of business.

“In today’s global game the activities of all unions are naturally of interest and any relevant information is always communicated through our official channels at appropriate times.”

Rumours have been rife over the ownership of Warriors who have reportedly lost more than £16million over the last three seasons.

The club’s backers have rejected a bid from ex-Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths who wanted to obtain a 51 per cent stake with a “silent investor” taking the remaining 49 per cent.

But Griffiths took to the club’s unofficial fans’ forum last week to say he remains hopeful a deal to secure an outright purchase of Warriors can be “resurrected”.

Livingstone, an international mid-market mergers and acquisitions firm, have been appointed by Worcester’s owners to find a buyer.