Worcester will appeal against suspension and relegation due to pandemic
WORCESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 18: General view of Sixways Stadium, the home of Worcester Warriors on March 18, 2020 in Worcester, England. The Rugby Football Union has suspended all levels of the game in England until 14 April because of Covid-19 (coronaviris). (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Worcester Warriors will appeal against their suspension and relegation on a “no fault insolvency” basis, citing the pandemic as causing their financial woes.
The RFU‘s regulation 5.5.9 states that “the RFU may in its absolute discretion reduce or waive in its entirety any sanction” if the “Insolvency Event would not have occurred but for an event or circumstance which was beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of the affected Club,” including “any epidemic or pandemic as categorised as such by the UK Government and/or the World Health Organisation.”
Administrators Begbies Taylor will challenge the RFU’s decision on this basis with Julie Palmer, in charge of the administration, stating on BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester that they were “close to establishing rugby creditors subject to anything else found”.
Following the winding up of the part of the club responsible for paying players’ wages, WRFC Players Ltd, being wound up in court over an unpaid tax bill of around £6 million, ten players have now left the club and more are rumoured to be following soon.
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