Worcester Warriors will no longer exist after withdrawing their request to play in the Championship next season and are set to rebrand as Sixways Rugby.
The club had been given until Tuesday, February 14 to meet the criteria in order to play in the second tier set by the Rugby Football Union but their owners, Atlas have withdrawn that request.
Jim O’Toole who bought the club alongside James Sandford said they have pulled out of the talks.
“There were a number of key clauses in the contract that we couldn’t sign,” O’Toole told BBC Sport.
“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.
“The name sadly will disappear.
“We are rebranding as Sixways Rugby,” he confirmed.
Worcester Warriors have withdrawn their proposal to play in the Championship in the 2023-24 season.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 9, 2023
New owners Atlas will change the club's name to Sixways Rugby too.#BBCRugbyUnion
The club will partner with fourth tier club Stourbridge who are set to play at the former home of Warriors, Sixways Stadium for the rest of the season.
They will then play in the National League 2 West division with the new owners outlining plans for reinstating the Sixways site.
“We know this will be an emotional crossroads for so many,” O’Toole added.
“But this is the start of a new journey and we believe the time to begin a new era starts here.
“In the coming weeks we will be speaking to everybody and we will again explain the plans for the future.
“We hope to keep fans up to date at all times, we will be transparent.
“We will be producing a range of initiatives to bring back fans to Sixways but also to invite new supporters along with us on this journey.”
