Worcester Warriors will play in the fourth tier of English rugby next season after scrapping their plans to compete in the Championship.
Atlas, the company that took over the club in February after they were issued with a winding up order last October, have confirmed the team will now be named Sixways Rugby and merge with semi-professional outfit Stourbridge. The National League Division Two West side are currently based at Stourton Park, and have won just once in 18 games this season.
Initially, Worcester had submitted proposals to the RFU to compete in the Championship in 2023/24. However, having been given until February 14 to meet the criteria, the new owners were discontented with the measures and have instead opted for a rebuild.
"There were a number of key clauses in the contract that we couldn't sign," Jim O'Toole, who led the takeover alongside James Sandford, told BBC Hereford & Worcester. "We and the investors couldn't accept them as they were too onerous.
"It would have given the RFU control over key decisions that we as a business will have to take. This decision will clearly upset and annoy a number of people. The sad fact of life is that the Worcester Warriors brand and the Worcester Warriors business is gone."
"We didn't want to go down to the 10th tier as Worcester Warriors, so the name sadly will disappear. We are rebranding as Sixways Rugby. We're starting afresh. We believe it is time for a new start. The church has closed down."
O'Toole added that had the club not merged and rebranded, they would have been forced to start afresh from the 10th tier of English rugby. And despite conceding he believes the Premiership will be ring-fenced for a considerable period, the American vowed:
"We will invest the maximum we can within the RFU regulations to get the club through the leagues to get to the Championship by 2026," added O'Toole.
The deal ends speculation over a potential merger with Wasps, who have also been relegated from the Premiership after entering administration late last year. O'Toole did admit though that the future of the Worcester's women's side, also based at Sixways, was still in the air.
"Worcester women and Worcester Raiders (local football side) will see out the season at Sixways," added O'Toole. "But we believe we need another tenant and are in talks."
