Worcester Warriors

Club Details

Sixways Stadium
Pershore Lane
Worcester
WR3 8ZE
 
Stadium Capacity: 8,328
Website: www.wrfc.co.uk
Founded: 1871

- 2006/7 Season Preview -

Last time around: An eighth-place finish in the Premiership is not too shabby for a club in only its second year in the top-flight. In fact, they were already home and dry whilst the likes of Bath and Saracens were still doing frantic orbits of the plughole. Not only that, the Warriors topped their pool in the European Challenge Cup, beat Northampton in the quarter-final and lost narrowly to the eventual winners, Gloucester, in the semis.

This time? Worcester will be looking to build on last season's success and secure a berth in the 2007/08 Heineken Cup. The bookies are talking about relegation, but some impressive off-season recruitment should see Worcester survive if not prosper. The important thing is that they now have plenty of belief in their ability. Indeed, the ditching of former England scrum-half Andy Gomarsall showed that the club no longer regards itself as a needy minnow. However, Europe might prove a sterner test then last year - they find themselves sharing a pool with Clermont Auvergne.

Coach: Worcester share the coaching duties between Anthony Eddy and John Brain - a fair call considering the size of the task they face. Brain is a forwards' coach by trade whilst Anthony Eddy brings in a little va-va-voom from the Queensland Reds. Eddy has assumed the head coach's role at Sixways whilst Brain's role is more general - he has revolutionised the club, both on and off the field, since arriving from Gloucester in 2001.

Captain: Like Martin Corry before him, Pat Sanderson has emerged from the shadows of the Hill/Dallaglio/Back axis and is now, surely, one of England's first-choice loose forwards. Despite persistent injury troubles, the big 28-year-old personifies Worcester's strengths - he is a noble grafter who would give his left leg for the club should it be requested of him.

One to watch: Worcester have one of the chunkiest packs in world rugby - one that has now been beefed up by the arrival of Gavin Quinnell, the 22st 'little' brother of Scott and Craig, and Darren Morris from Leicester Tigers. This hunger for meat has lead to accusations that the side is a little too top-heavy, but the energy of scrum-half Ryan Powell and wing Marcel Garvey should add a little speed and finesse to the ballast. The new backs will be well-governed by playmaker Shane Drahm, a man blessed with an inspired rugby brain.

Final 2006/7 league position prediction: 9th
totalbet.com prediction (29/8): 66-1 to finish first 

In: Lee Best (Bath), Ryan Powell, (Cardiff Blues, Wales), Marcel Garvey (Gloucester), Darren Morris (Leicester Tigers), Miguel Avramovic (Asociación Alumni, Argentina), Ben Gotting (Wasps), Gavin Quinnell (Llanelli Scarlets, Wales).

Out: Gavin Hickie (Leicester Tigers), Nicolas Le Roux (Brive, France), Jonny Hylton (released), Mike Maguire (Ulster), Andy Gomarsall (released), Ben Gotting (Wasps), Gavin Quinnell (Llanelli Scarlets, Wales), Andre Van Niekerk (Lions, South Africa), Ed O'Donaghue (Queensland, Australia), Saiosi Vaili (Viadana, Italy).

Colours: Navy blue and yellow

Tickets: £11 - 22

Travel connections: Worcester's ground lies a short drive from the M5 motorway going north from Bristol to Birmingham, but traffic on match days is quite heavy, and it may better to take advantage of the park and walk or park and ride services offered. Worcester's rail station is a small one and is some way away from the ground, and the nearest airport is Bristol.