Worcester Warriors players have taken matters into their own hands over unpaid wages, with a young player revealing has even been made homeless by the whole ordeal.
The club were recently served a winding-up petition by the HMRC over unpaid tax, which is believed to be in the region of £6 million. Players have not been paid this week amid an atmosphere of mistrust towards the club's owners.
A group of core players are said to be refusing to play in the season opener against London Irish unless the situation is sorted.
And Warriors players have now taken to social media to vent their frustrations. Players have posted videos with the caption - Together #Worcester . A raft of players posted simultaneous videos, explaining how they felt and what the club meant to them.
READ MORE: Malcolm Marx's superhuman strength saves 19st team-mate from serious injury
Youngster Ollie Wynn's video has epitomised the current dismay at the club, as he says he has been made homeless due to unpaid wages.
"I've been made homeless recently. Fortunately for me one of the older boys has put me up in their house which I'm so grateful for. It shows as a unit, how tight we are as boys and hopefully we can come through this together."
20-year-old fly-half Fin Smith has spoken openly and honestly, saying the players are "just real frustrated" about not being paid. He also mentioned that the players don't feel like they are getting what they deserve as a group.
Murray McCallum had a similar message, explaining how he found home at Worcester following his departure from Glasgow Warriors. His three-week-old daughter was born there, and he says he would be devastated to see the club go under. He concluded his video by simply saying "Pay up".
Sports Scientist Harry Sharman has explained "we can't continue down the path we're going down, the uncertainty is killing us. No matter how much we love it, no matter how much we want to be here, we can't continue to work unpaid."
Former Wales international Owen Williams, who signed from the NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes in Japan, explained the importance of Worcester to him and his family in a touching video.
"The way the players, the staff, the fans have welcomed me and my wife - it feels like we have been here a lot longer."
"We are expecting our first child in the new year, and we just want our boy to watch me run out at Sixways and hopefully move the club forward in the next coming years."
Former Scarlets Academy product Harri Doel has also been involved in this social media outcry from the players and staff.
Welshman Simon 'Chuck' Norris is an analyst at Worcester. Despite staff and players not being paid, he is still coming into work and driving from Wales.
Norris revealed he had a cancer scare last year, and kept coming into work without telling anyone.
"I kept coming into work every day, giving 110%, I love the game, I love rugby, I want to make a difference in whatever team I work in, it's pretty emotional".
"Players put their body on the line every week, they just want to get paid. the staff are 110% committed to this club, they give so much time, effort. Way above what they get paid for, we just want this club to work."
According to the BBC Hereford and Worcester, several players have handed in their notice over 'breach of contract issues' revolving around the pay dispute.
The Times have also reported that there isn't even money for food, transport, kit and tape. They are currently set to wear last season's jerseys and a number of players do not want to play the opening match.
The Gallagher Premiership begins next weekend, and Worcester Warriors' first game is an away trip to London Irish on September 10th. At this moment in time the game is set to go ahead.
Read next:
