Club History

Worcester Rugby Football Club, now known as Worcester Warriors, was founded in 1871 by Rev Francis John Eld and the team played its first match in November of that year against the Royal Artillery Rugby Club. The club faced challenges early on, including disbandment in 1896 and interruptions during the World Wars. Despite these setbacks, the club grew steadily through the 20th century, developing strong teams and acquiring grounds such as Claines, Perdiswell, and Bilford Road.

The club moved to Sixways Stadium in 1975 and placed in the eighth tier of English rugby with the advent of the English rugby union league competition. By the 1990s, Worcester saw unprecedented success with significant financial backing and passionate support of chairman, local businessman and philanthropist Cecil Duckworth, allowing them to rise through the leagues. The club embraced professionalism in 1996 and was promoted to the (then Zurich) Premiership in 2003-04 after an unbeaten season with a perfect record of 26 wins from 26 games, something that had never before been achieved. Despite early predictions of relegation, they secured several key victories and remained in the top flight.

Over the next decade, Worcester faced relegation and promotion, making significant progress in domestic and European competitions.Throughout the 2010s, Worcester continued to develop its facilities in a £23 million development programme, including David Lloyd Health Club health club, fully tarmacked park and ride area, and expanded capacity to 11,499. There was also investment in young talent as the club also launched six Junior Academy Centres across the West Midlands and the wider region to ensure the future of the Club was a positive one where young players could be developed into first-team stars further down the line. Warriors secured notable wins and maintained their Premiership status under various coaches, including Dean Ryan, Gary Gold, and Alan Solomons. The club reached milestones like the British & Irish Cup win in 2015 and their largest-ever Premiership victory in 2018.

Over the next few seasons, the Warriors achieved successes, including reaching the European Challenge Cup semi-finals. Despite these highs, the team experienced relegation in 2010, but quickly returned to the Premiership in 2011.

Warriors' season in the Aviva Premiership during the 2015/16 campaign was a successful one following the redevelopment of the Indoor Training Centre offering state-of-the-art facilities. The club also made a number of high-profile signings in Francois Hougaard, Donncha O'Callaghan and Wynand Olivier and finished the season in tenth position after winning seven games.They secured notable wins and maintained their Premiership status under various coaches, including Dean Ryan, Gary Gold, and Alan Solomons. The club reached milestones like the British & Irish Cup win in 2015 and their largest-ever Premiership victory in 2018.

Worcester Ladies were also established in 1993 and since then the women’s side went from strength to strength, being crowned Premiership champions for the first time in their 20-year history in the 2012/13 season, and regularly finishing in the top four of the Women’s Premiership. In 2016, Worcester Ladies joined up with Worcester Warriors – and were renamed Worcester Valkyries, before becoming Worcester Warriors Women ahead of the 2019/20 campaign – signaling a new era for the team.

Worcester Warriors Women also has a long history of international success, with many players going on to represent their countries in World Cups and international tournaments such as the Six Nations, and the Rugby World Cup.

The 2021–22 season saw the men’s side finish 11th in the Premiership and win the Premiership Cup for the first time, but the club faced financial difficulties soon after. By 2022, the club was suspended from the Premiership due to these financial challenges and was ultimately removed from the league. Efforts to return for the 2023-24 season faltered as prospective buyers failed to meet conditions, leaving the club's future uncertain. 

New owners Junction 6 Limited took control of the business and assets of Sixways Stadium and Worcester Warriors in April 2024, with financial backing from Loxwood Holdings. The ultimate and stated aim of Loxwood has always been to protect and recover elite level rugby, in a sustainable way for Worcester Warriors. 

Junction 6 Limited continue to employ all existing staff and are actively expanding operations at Sixways to transform it into a thriving sporting and conference and events facility, working with Wychavon District Council we engaged with Nigel Huddleston MP and Robin Walker MP and other interested stakeholders. Junction 6 Limited are also proactively working with the RFU and Championship to return Worcester Warriors to the second tier of English Rugby, including the reformation of a women’s team to see the return of professional rugby to Sixways.