Club captain Pat Sanderson insisted Worcester Warriors would learn the lessons of relegation and come back better for the painful experience.
Sanderson was forced out of the game against Leeds Carnegie through injury and had to watch from the sidelines as Worcester lost 12-10 in a must-win encounter.
The Sixways skipper admitted the emotions of a ‘hammer blow’ day for the club were hard to contemplate and express.
However, he backed his team-mates to respond in the right manner and stay united in a bid to return to the top-flight at the first time of asking.
“It is a very emotional time for us all. I have been involved with the club for a number of seasons now and I can’t fault for one second the attitude and commitment of the guys I play with,” said Sanderson.
“Sometimes the battle is as much about the one with yourself as it is with results, promotion, relegation and where you end up in the table.
“I think the guys went out there, as they have done on nearly every occasion this season, and got the best out of themselves. We have come up short, for whatever reason, but it isn’t through a want of trying or effort.
“In terms of the type of people they are, they can be proud. People saw it for themselves, they have given everything they could.
“If you don’t give everything and you come up short, well that is a very different, but I don’t think you can cast that accusation at any single one of them.”
Warriors now face Gloucester Rugby on the final day of the season before attention will switch to the bid to return to the Guinness Premiership.
And Sanderson believes the work must start now – as individuals and as a team – to react positively and move forward.
“It’s difficult to put my feelings into words, it is fairly indescribable,” he added. “An awful lot of endeavour and heart has gone into this club to get us where we are. This is a hammer blow for us all and it is very difficult to take.
“What is most important for me as an individual, us as a team and my friends in that changing room is how we deal with this.
“We will learn more now than we ever could. It is when you are at your lowest that you find out the most about yourself.
“I have absolutely no doubt about the type of people in that changing room, we will go about this the right way and we will be back.
“It is very difficult to look past what has just happened, it is very emotional when so much has gone into it, but we have got to make sure we respond the right way. You look at what Northampton and Harlequins have done and take something from that.
“We must reflect upon ourselves, our mistakes and make sure we are better for this experience. It could be a very vital experience for us moving forward if we go about it the right way.
“Greg Rawlinson said to us all as a team after the game that this shows just how ruthless this league is.
“We are a good side, we have huge team spirit and huge endeavour. But this is a ruthless environment and that is the one big lesson we have got to learn.”