NEW chief executive Jim O’Toole wants the city to throw their support behind Worcester Warriors’ bid to reach the final of the British and Irish Cup.

Warriors have been handed a home semi-final tie against holders Leinster ‘A’, who have won the competition for the past two seasons.

Worcester’s Championship rivals Bristol face Doncaster Knights at Ashton Gate in the other last-four clash with the winner getting home advantage in the final.

O’Toole yesterday joined Warriors from Premiership outfit from London Irish and is excited about welcoming Leinster to Sixways on the weekend of March 13 to 15.

O’Toole said: “Our young side have flourished in the British and Irish Cup this season and the prospect of facing Leinster ‘A’ at Sixways is an exciting one.

“Leinster have won the cup for the last two seasons and their pedigree in this competition means there will be a lively atmosphere here.”

The Dublin side topped pool five after beating Plymouth and Jersey twice and registering a win and a loss against Welsh outfit Carmarthen.

Leinster booked their semi-final spot after battering Rotherham Titans 51-32 in a high-scoring encounter at Clifton Lane last month.

Leinster, whose side are coached by Girvan Dempsey, won the competition last season after a 44-17 home success against Yorkshire Carnegie.

Worcester have sealed seven straight wins in their British and Irish Cup campaign and topped pool three after twice beating Moseley, Munster ‘A’ and Nottingham.

Warriors ousted Pontypridd 24-10 in last month’s quarter-final after Dean Hammond’s try after 47 seconds helped them into a 21-3 lead inside 18 minutes.

Full-back Ben Howard, fly-half Ignacio Mieres also touched down for Worcester, with Mieres slotting three conversions and a penalty.

Despite dominating the second-half, Warriors could not add to their first-half tally and the Welsh side scored a converted try in the second period.

Pontypridd’s large travelling support swelled the 4,605 crowd at Sixways and helped to create the best atmosphere at the ground this season. After the match, number eight Richard de Carpentier insisted Worcester would need to step up a notch to reach the showpiece final.

He said:“Just focusing on winning is not good enough. We want to push ourselves and we’re competing against ourselves to get better and we could definitely have been better.”

O’Toole said: “With the game falling at the end of Cheltenham Festival week, we’re hoping we will be able to welcome some Irish supporters as well.

“We want to make this a match to remember and, with a place in the final at stake, the support of the city will be crucial.”

Warriors are planning to confirm the date of the fixture later this week.