Worcester Warriors players and staff had their contracts terminated after part of the club was wound up in court.

On a dark day for Worcester, we take a look at the history of the club that went from the eighth tier of English rugby to the Premiership.

READ MORE: Worcester Warriors: WRFC Players Limited wound up in court

1871 - Worcester Rugby Club are founded and play their first game against Royal Artillery Rugby Club at Pitchcroft

1954 - The club starts playing at Bevere in Worcester

1975 - The club moves to Sixways. They are later placed in the eight tier of English Rugby Union, following a restructure of the leagues by the RFU

1997 - Cecil Duckworth, a millionaire businessman and former president of the Bosch Heating Division, starts his association with the club. Thanks to his significant financial backing, Worcester begin to climb the league ladder

2004 - Warriors win National Division One with a perfect record of 26 wins in 26 games, securing promotion to the Premiership for the first time

2005 - The club reaches the final of the European Shield, losing to French side Auch

2007/08 - Worcester make big signings including All Black Rico Gear and Australian international Chris Latham

READ MORE: What happens to Worcester Warriors now? Will they play again this season?

2010 - Warriors are relegated from the Premiership, their first relegation in 22 years

2011 - The club returns to the Premiership under coach Richard Hill

2013 - Hill is replaced by Dean Ryan and are relegated in his first season, but again return to the Premiership at the first attempt. High profile signings in the following seasons include Donncha O’Callaghan and Wynand Olivier

2017 - Warriors finish 11th under director of rugby Gary Gold, scoring a club record 56 tries in the league. They finish 11th again the following season under Gold’s replacement Alan Solomans

2019 - Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham become joint owners of Worcester Warriors

May 2022 - Warriors win the Premiership Cup for the first time

August 2022 - The club’s accounts are frozen after a winding up petition is issued by HMRC

September 2022 - The government places WRFC Trading Limited, the company that owns the rugby club, in administration. The RFU suspends the club from all rugby competition

October 2022 - WRFC Players Limited, the company that employs the players and staff, is wound up in court