University of Worcester Warriors Director of Rugby Jo Yapp hailed the efforts of staff who got the game on and allowed her players to launch their season with a 16-13 Allianz Cup win over Harlequins Women at Sixways.
Permission for the match to be played was given less than 24 hours before kick-off and was made possible by the long hours put in by staff to ensure criteria set by the RFU were met.
Some of those staff formed a guard of honour for the players before kick-off with their applause for the players being reciprocated in a gesture that demonstrated the unity between all staff at the club in a period of continuing uncertainty.
“There was a huge amount of emotion and passion. It has been a tough few weeks and the last few days in particular have been really tough,” Yapp said.
“It has taken a monumental effort to get two games on this weekend. The way the players wanted to pay the staff back was by going out and getting that win.
“Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t pretty and some of our decision-making at times wasn’t amazing, but what we didn’t lack was heart.
“We said that we needed to play with heart and passion, control the control-ables and be first at everything and I think we did that today.
“The one thing that the last few days have done is it has pulled everyone together. The Heads of Department have been amazing by pulling the staff together.
“When the girls walked out they clapped the staff. That’s what we said we wanted to do because they shouldn’t be clapping us, we should be clapping them just for just putting us in a position to be able to play this game.
“A massive thank you to the supporters who came too because the noise they made was fantastic. The supporters and community of Worcester have really got behind the club so a big thank you to them.”