AS a supporting act to their eye-catching pre-season clash with the touring Melbourne Rebels, Worcester Warriors have announced they will also play warm-up games against Cornish Pirates and Plymouth Albion.
After kicking-off their preparations for an Aviva Premiership return against the Super XV stars (Monday, August 15, 7.45pm), Warriors take to the road to play last term’s Championship rivals Plymouth at Brickfields on Saturday, August 20 (5.30pm).
The final game of the warm-up period will see Warriors back on home soil as they face Cornish Pirates on Saturday, August 27 (5pm).
The game will form part of the club’s annual open day with free admission to all supporters.
An academy-led Worcester side will also make the short journey to face Stourbridge on Tuesday, August 23 (kick-off TBC).
Sixways head coach Richard Hill said: “We are very excited and pleased by the pre-season fixture list we have lined up.
“The game with the Rebels will get our pre-season off with a bang and ensure nobody is coasting along. We have eight weeks of pre-season before we go straight into the Rebels match and a really big test.
“It is good that we get that test and jolt early on. There is no point waiting for the first game of the Aviva Premiership season to get a shock. We want top-class opposition first up so we know the standards we have to hit.”
He added: “Pirates and Plymouth will provide excellent opposition from the Championship.
“Pirates gave us tough games throughout last season and I am delighted we face them on the eve of our return to the top-flight. That is a real challenge.
“I have a good relationship with Plymouth Albion through my dealings with Graham Dawe and going to Brickfields will be tough. He will have them revved up to go full-throttle at us.
“I am keen to keep up strong relationships with teams like them in the Championship. We have signed players from both teams and that is a two-way process.
“Some of our players may require spells on loan and regular rugby, so working closely with Championship sides is important to us.”
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