Worcester Rugby

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Worcester Rugby
Full name	Worcester Warriors Rugby Union Football Club
Founded	1871
Location	Worcester, England
Ground	Sixways Stadium
Capacity	9,726
Chairman	Cecil Duckworth
Coach	John Brain
League	Guinness Premiership
2005-06	8th
Home colours		Away colours
Official Website
www.worcesterrugby.co.uk

Worcester are an English rugby union team who play in the Guinness Premiership. They are also known as Worcester Warriors.

They play at Sixways stadium (capacity 9,726 - this will increase for the 2006 season to 10,000, and to 13,200 by 2008). They wear blue and gold.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Foundation 1.2 Support 1.3 Promotion to the Premiership 1.4 Coaching Staff and Players 1.5 Coaches 2006/2007 1.6 Coaches 2005/2006 1.7 Coaches 2004/2005 2 International Players 3 Former Players (Internationals) 4 Club Honours 5 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Foundation

They were founded in 1871 by the Reverend Francis John Ede with the first recorded game being played against the Artillery on November 8th 1871. They started playing at Bevere in Worcester in 1954, and left Bevere for Sixways in 1975, when the clubhouse was opened. Since the creation of leagues they have spent most of their time in regional leagues.

[edit] Support

Due to the support from their backer Cecil Duckworth, Worcester were able to build a strong team and promotion after promotion followed. In 2006, extremely ambitious plans were announced for a £23 million development programme, which would see a health club with fitness centre and swimming pool, fully tarmacced park and ride area, and expanded capacity, estimated to be 13,000.

[edit] Promotion to the Premiership

They were promoted to the Zurich (now Guinness) Premiership after winning National Division One in 2003/4 with a perfect record of 26 wins from 26 games, something that had never before been achieved, and as of yet, has not been achieved again. They were the bookies, and many of the rugby pundits odds on favourites to go straight back down but defied the odds to stay in the Premiership for another season, finishing ninth in the league, after wins against teams including NEC Harlequins, Leeds Tykes, a historic victory against Premiership Champions London Wasps and Northampton Saints in a 'winner takes all' end of season finale, which they won 21-19. This match was shown live with more twists and turns off the pitch as well as on it, with then Northampton player, Shane Drahm, eventually starting, and successfully kicking almost everything, after press releases by Northampton stating that he would be a substitute. In the 2004 / 2005 season, despite Premiership survival being their ultimate aim, they reached the final of the European Shield at Oxford's Kassam Stadium, after beating Leeds Tykes in the semi - final. They eventually lost out to the French side Auch. They also managed to achieve a play - off match for the Heineken Cup against Saracens, but their long fight for Premiership survival and an injury-ravaged squad meant that they lost. Their achievements for that season meant that they had achieved much more than they had originally hoped for, as well as earning the respect of the other Premiership sides in the process.

In the 2005 / 2006 season, they reached the quarter - finals of the European Challenge Cup after finishing top of their pool with five wins out of a possible six, above Connacht, Montpellier Herault and Amatori Catania, and faced an away match against Northampton Saints on April Fool's Day, which they won, in what was described by sports writers as some of the best rugby they have played all season. They reached the semi - finals where they faced Gloucester Rugby in a local derby showdown, with it being the third time they had played Gloucester that season, with the European match being played the week after the Premiership match at Kingsholm. Despite playing some thrilling rugby, and looking much more solid as a team than the previous week's Premiership performance, they were knocked out of the competition. The European Challenge Cup is now a much more important competition to Worcester as it offers them a route into the Heineken Cup, which is the next stage in the club's development, and with the 2006/2007 season being their third season in the Premiership, something that is now a very realistic goal.

In the 2005-06 Guinness Premiership, they avoided relegation and were safe much earlier in the season, which meant that they avoided a repeat of last years relegation battle on the last day of the season. This was a huge achievement considering that this is still only their second season in rugby's top flight. They have again re - written the history books, by chalking up a very special 15-11 victory against the Leicester Tigers and a 37-8 victory against London Wasps, along with victories against Saracens, London Irish, Northampton Saints, Leeds Tykes, Bristol Rugby and a first day of the season draw against Gloucester Rugby, and getting their first points (a try bonus point and a losing bonus point) against Bath. Gloucester Rugby is the only club the Warriors have not beaten during their time in the Premiership. During the match against Newcastle Falcons at Sixways, the club made history as twins Lee Fortey and Chris Fortey made history as the first twins to ever play on the same team in a Premiership match. The season culminated in an 8th place finish in the league on 47 points, one place higher than 2004/2005, with the same amount of wins (9) but more bonus points and a draw, missing 7th position due to Newcastle Falcons having a better points difference, secured on the last day of the season.

[edit] Coaching Staff and Players

Anthony Eddy left the club this week. This is his first head coach role, and he is working alongside the highly experienced John Brain, as Director of Rugby, who used to coach at Gloucester Rugby. John Brain is well known for the creation of formidable forward packs, something that Worcester is well respected for, with their pack including players such as Welsh international prop Chris Horsman, English International flanker Pat Sanderson, along with outstanding lock Craig Gillies, who many believe should be playing for England. In their second season in the Premiership they started to show much more flair in the backs, proving that they are not just a one trick pony. Aisea Havili, who joined the club from Llanelli Scarlets, finished as the club's top try scorer, and earning himself the nickname 'Ace' in the process. The club also boasts the young talent of Richard Blaze, Nick Runciman, who were part of the U21 Grand Slam Team for the 2006 Six Nations, and Simon Whatling (former England U21) and Uche O'Douza (former England U19). All have made Premiership appearances in the last two seasons and will be competing seriously for first team action next season.

Players who will definitely be at the club for the 2006/2007 season include: Pat Sanderson (captain), Drew Hickey, Tony Windo, Tevita Tauemeopeau, Shane Drahm, James Brown, Matt Powell, Thinus Delport, Aisea Havilli, Craig Gillies, Chris Horsman, Tom Harding, Phil Murphy, Gary Trueman and Mark Tucker. Thomas Lombard, who previously had been returning to France due to family reasons will now be staying at Worcester for 2006/2007.

Players that have been recruited to join the squad for the 2006/2007 season so far include Ben Gotting, hooker (from London Wasps), Lee Best, fullback/wing (from Bath Rugby), Darren Morris, prop (from Leceister Tigers) Ryan Powell, scrum half (from Cardiff Blues),Marcel Garvey, wing (from Gloucester Rugby)and Miguel Avramovic (from Argentina).

Several promising academy players will also be training with the first team for the 2006/2007, with the hope of breaking into the first team.

[edit] Coaches 2006/2007

Director of Rugby - John Brain

Head Coach - Anthony Eddy

Fitness and Conditioning Coach - Keir Hansen

Skills and Analytic Coach - Billy McGinty

[edit] Coaches 2005/2006

Director of Rugby - John Brain

Head Coach - Anthony Eddy

Fitness and Conditioning Coach - Phil Richards

Skills and Analytic Coach - Billy McGinty

[edit] Coaches 2004/2005

Director of Rugby - John Brain

Head Coach - Andy Keast

Fitness and Conditioning Coach - Phil Richards

Skills and Analytic Coach - Billy McGinty

[edit] International Players

• Pat Sanderson
• England Captain 2006
• England Squad Autumn Internationals 2005
• RBS Six Nations 2006
• England Elite Player Squad 2006/2007
• Shane Drahm - England A Squad RBS Six Nations 2006
• Kai Horstmann - England Saxons Churchill Cup Tour 2006
• Chris Horsman - Wales Squad Autumn Internationals 2005
• Thomas Lombard - France
• Dale Rasmussen - Samoa
• Thinus Delport - South Africa
• Tevita Taumoepeau - Tonga
• 'Aisea Havili - Tonga
• Miguel Avramovic - Argentina
• Richard Blaze - England U21
• Simon Whatling - England U21
• Callum Black - Ireland U21

[edit] Former Players (Internationals)

• Andy Gomarsall - England Elite Player Squad 2005
• Nicholas Le Roux - France Sevens Squad 2006
• Jonny Hylton - England Sevens

[edit] Club Honours

• National League One Champions 2003 / 2004
• 9th Place Finish Zurich Premiership 2004/2005
• European Challenge Shield Finalists 2005
• 8th Place Finish Guinness Premiership 2005/2006
• European Challenge Cup Semi - Finalists 2006

[edit] External links

• Official site
• Official Supporters' site on Sportnetwork
• Independent Supporters' Site
• Data, statistics etc about Worcester (in English and in French)