WORCESTER Warriors are reaping the benefits of surviving their first season in rugby's top flight.

Sixways supporters are snapping up season tickets for the 2005/06 campaign as Warriors look to build on last year's performances.

Director of operations Mike Robins said: "After last year's success we did anticipate an increase in season ticket sales.

"We are aiming for 5,000, up from 3,500 last season, and we are on target for that. But we are going to limit it at that so people can buy tickets."

The influx of fans will be accommodated by the new North stand, taking the ground capacity to 9,700.

Everything is on course for that development, which replaces last season's terraced stand, and is due to be completed in the near future.

"The new stand will be installed in July," Robins added. "All the ground work is sorted."

Supporters will be able to use the stand in the opening game of the season against local rivals Gloucester, a match that has been moved to 1pm on Sunday, September 4, to allow for Sky Sports coverage.

Meanwhile, director of rugby John Brain joins his players in taking a well-earned break this week ahead of the Warriors reporting for pre-season training on June 29.

That will have given all personnel the best part of six weeks off ready for the nine-week build-up to the Guinness Premiership opener with Gloucester. Llanelli Scarlets and Benetton Treviso are both scheduled to face the Warriors in friendly fixtures as part of that programme.

n Warriors' Richard Blaze and Simon Whatling are both tipped to start England's next group game against last year's semi-finalists South Africa on Monday in the Under 21s World Cup in Argentina.

They figured in the first game -- a 52-22 outclassing of Samoa -- and club-mate Will Bowley appeared from the bench.

n Ex-Worcester player Ben Gollings again showed his Sevens expertise with a brace of tries as England beat Canada 42-5 in the IRB Paris Sevens.

Gollings, now playing for Sunnybank in Australia, also kicked six conversions for a personal haul of 22 points. England then defeated Portugal 29-0.