Plans for a major multimillion-pound redevelopment of the professional rugby union club – the Worcester Warriors’ home venue – the Sixways Stadium in Worcester, England (UK) – have been approved by the Council.
‘BBC’ stated that the scheme will see the expansion of the North Stand to increase the rugby ground’s capacity as well as a new 130-room hotel, a medical and sports rehabilitation center and a padel club.
The Worcester Warriors is a professional rugby union club based in Worcester, England (UK). The side most recently played in the Premiership Rugby, the top division of the English rugby union, before being suspended by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in September 2022 due to financial insolvency. Following a period of administration the club was reformed as a new entity and will play in the Champ Rugby from the 2025-2026 seasons.
The 12,067-capacity Sixways Stadium is a stadium in Worcester, England (UK). It is currently used for rugby union and association football matches and is the home stadium of the Champ Rugby side Worcester Warriors.
London (UK)-based the Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body for rugby union in England. It was founded in 1871 and was the sport’s international governing body prior to the formation of what is now known as the World Rugby (WR) in 1886. It promotes and runs the sport, organizes international matches for the England national team and educates and trains the players and the officials.
The Champ Rugby (formerly the RFU Championship) is an English rugby union competition among 14 clubs. It is the second level of Men’s English rugby and is played by both the professional and the semi-professional players.
Dublin (Ireland)-based the World Rugby is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. The World Rugby organizes the Rugby World Cup every four years, the sport’s most recognized and most profitable competition. It also organizes a number of other international competitions.
‘BBC’ further stated that the Wychavon District Council said it was delighted for the club and its fans and the fact that the plans would provide a boost to the local businesses.
The Director of Sixways Stadium Oliver Holland said it had been “quite a long journey” and they wanted to make the club more sustainable.
He told they were excited to have “finally got it over the line”.
Added Holland, “It’s a mixed-use masterplan that’s centered around trying to bring people to Sixways. There are some elements that are designed purely to bring income to the club to make sure that it’s sustainable for the future.”
The proposals, which were submitted at the end of 2024 also include a multistory car park, Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging for the cars and a replacement sports pitch.
The Warriors returned to their home ground in September last year, two years after the club went into administration and was banned from the Premiership.
Christopher Holland, the club’s Executive Chairman, said he began the process of restoring the club to professional rugby in November 2023.
He said the redevelopment scheme was a “major milestone” and “transformative step forward” which provided the foundation for a financially sustainable future – “The Sixways masterplan will introduce facilities and complementary uses that reduce reliance on the matchday income and the shareholder funding and establishes the stadium site as a year-round destination for sport, health and industry. It provides the platform required for the Worcester Warriors to grow, compete and thrive at the highest level possible.”
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