Scottish trip cancelled by crisis-hit Warriors but wages will be paid

Stricken Premiership rugby club Worcester Warriors’ future has been thrown into further doubt after it cancelled a pre-season warm-up game against Glasgow Warriors, which was set to be played in Inverness tomorrow evening (September 2).

In a statement released on social media, director of rugby, Steve Diamond, had said the decision was “hugely frustrating”, but that it has been made because players and staff were still without wages for the last month.

However, five hours later he confirmed that Warriors’ owners had now paid its players, and all rugby and none rugby staff will be paid fully over the next few days.

Diamond said: “Thanks go to Colin & Jason. We must prepare for Irish in 10 days. All positive energy from now on please.” 

The statement comes just days after a former chief executive of Worcester Warriors submitted a bid to save the club after it was issued a winding-up petition over unpaid tax.

But Jim O’Toole said the club would need to be placed into administration for his plan to succeed.

O’Toole said he can “ensure the long-term sustainability” of the club but his plans are dependent on the Premiership club being placed into administration, which would incur an automatic 35-point penalty for the new season.