Worcester to pay players and staff in full amid financial crisis

Worcester Warriors have insisted that they will pay the salaries of players and staff in full for the August month amid the financial crisis.

The news followed a day after Worcester's co-owner Colin Goldring said the players and staff members are unlikely to be paid for the August payroll after they were found guilty of unpaid taxes to HM Revenue & Customs in excess of £6m. The club was also given a £14m loan by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport during the Covid pandemic crisis.

A statement released by the club revealed that 65% of their payroll wages for the August month will be cleared on Wednesday with the remaining 35% to be paid within five working days.

Meanwhile, the club has cancelled their pre-season fixture against Glasgow Warriors on Friday night.

"Together we have been forced to take the hugely frustrating and disappointing decision not to travel to Inverness tomorrow for our pre-season fixture against Glasgow Warriors on Friday, as players and staff wages remain unpaid," the statement read.

"The squad have worked hard throughout pre-season and are bitterly disappointed to be put in this position.

"We express our deep sorrow to our hosts Glasgow Warriors who we hope understand the unique and worrying situation we find ourselves in.

"We would like to thank Adam Hewitt for his overwhelming generosity in offering to fund the trip.

"It simply isn't feasible to play when futures remain uncertain and a decision had to be taken today. It is unethical for professional players to play a full-on game with the risk of injury and the real possibility of no employment to follow."

Worcester are scheduled to take on London Irish in the new season of the Gallagher Premiership on 10th September.