The Play-offs Await
- Apr 20
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 21
The Run-in
Two match-days to go in a season of ups and downs for Worcester Warriors, with some fascinating fixtures ahead. The top five in The Elior Champ have already guaranteed themselves a play-off spot, with the final berth still up for grabs; any of Hartpury, Pirates, Nottingham, Ampthill or even Doncaster still have a shout to complete the final six.
Hartpury are deservedly in the box seat, having recently returned to the form that saw them do the double over Warriors earlier in the season. They also have an easier run-in than most on paper. However, Pirates pushed Ealing hard at the weekend and could be in a position to sneak in should they manage to overturn Coventry at The Mennaye on May 2nd.
The final weeks of the regular season for the Top 5 clubs look much like a rehearsal for the potential play-offs with only Richmond crashing that particular party.
Current Pts | Week 25 | Week 26 | Predicted Pts | ||
 | Ealing Trailfinders | 117 | Worcester (A) | Bedford (H) | 127 |
 | Bedford Blues | 92 | Chinnor (H) | Ealing (A) | 99 |
 | Coventry | 87 | Pirates (A) | Worcester (H) | 93 |
 | Worcester Warriors | 84 | Ealing (H) | Coventry (A) | 87 |
 | Chinnor | 75 | Bedford (A) | Richmond (H) | 80 |
 | Hartpury University | 71 | Cambridge (A) | Pirates (H) | 80 |
 | Cornish Pirates | 68 | Coventry (H) | Hartpury (A) | 74 |
 | Nottingham | 66 | Ampthill (H) | Doncaster (A) | 69 |
 | Ampthill | 64 | Nottingham (A) | Cambridge (H) | 74 |
 | Doncaster Knights | 63 | Caldy (A) | Nottingham (H) | 73 |
On rankings alone, Warriors have the most challenging run-in playing two of the top three clubs. However, none of the top four will be sitting on their laurels. To a neutral observer these fixtures could appear as meaningless dead rubbers but I am sure that the vast majority of those following Champ teams will not share that view.
For Ealing, the prospect of finishing with a victorious season will be uppermost in their minds and perhaps even valued higher than a Play-off Final win. Bedford will be determined to nail down a home semi-final, whilst Coventry supporters will be itching to get down to the Cornish coast; doubtless their team will also be champing at the bit to avenge the first day defeat at Sixways. Having spoken to many Chinnor fans at the weekend, I strongly suspect that doing the double over Warriors, on a day to mark the passing of their CEO and club stalwart Simon Vickers, means more to them than any place in the play-offs. I think they will struggle against Blues but will put a big score on Richmond in their final game. I have Pirates down to turn-over Coventry but ultimately pull up short at Hartpury.
I am certain that the Warriors squad will be smarting severely after the last two games and will do all they can to reverse the form-book against Ealing and Coventry. Unfortunately I fear that the opposition may be just too strong for a team that has recently struggled to build momentum or play with the fluidity that we enjoyed earlier in the season. I will, of course, be extremely happy to be proven wrong.
The game in Penzance was certainly one of the highlights of the year and it finally looked as though we were regaining some form looking towards the season finales. Before this we were struggling significantly at the set-piece with key injuries in the front-five. The return of the likes of Archie Vanes, Fraser Balmain, Billy Keast, James Tyas and Matt Rogerson has bolstered our scrummaging and our lineout woes appear to be behind us.
However, although we have undoubtedly tightened up in the tight we have also loosened up in the loose, with knock-ons, interceptions and spills-in-contact stymieing our attack. The over-reliance on the box-kick lottery has also been particularly infuriating at times. We have sorely missed the attacking flair and dynamism of Khalik Kareem since his injury and departure to Ashton Gate. Our (team) captain is understandably taking much of the responsibility at first receiver; Matt has been outstanding all season but he is no longer a true Number 7 and we should not reasonably expect him to play like one.
When he signed I admit to being a little concerned about Will Reed's slight stature and strength in defence. However, the games against Bedford and Chinnor have exposed how we have relied on him during the campaign for his superb ball distribution, attacking breaks, support play and kicking both from tee and out of hand. It would certainly be a major boost to have Reed back fit at 10 and perhaps restore a better balance to our back-line.
Once more we appear to be without our two seasoned wingers in Naulago and Bassett and this has inevitably had a negative impact on our attacking play. The continued absence of Tom Seabrook and the departure of Tom Hendrickson has also left us thin in the midfield and over-reliant on players taking less familiar roles.
Isn't it great though to be able to have these sort of conversations with fellow supporters, opposition fans and people at the local? It has been an amazing first season back with some huge wins and many joyous occasions. Our club is back playing and we have so much more to look forward to. It was never going to be a straightforward task to bring together a completely new squad to compete at such a high level of rugby. Playing every match with a target on their backs has ramped up the difficulty level further.
We look odds-on to finish a hugely creditable 4th in the league with the prospect of a home QF and perhaps a chance to finally get one over the Chinnor lads. Most Warriors fans would have snapped your hand off if that was offered up twelve months ago; a year further back they would have laughed in your face (and frequently did!)
Season Ticket Renewal - a rallying call
Many readers will have already received an email from the club about Season Ticket Renewals. Prices remain very competitive compared to other high-level Champ Clubs, with over-65s getting an extremely generous 25% reduction. Early-bird (before 20/5/26) prices are £24 lower for Adults in all Tiers; U-18s pay just £99 for the season and U-12s once again get free access with a paying adult. Monthly payment plans are available as usual.
Full pricing details and information about promotions and benefits can be found here.
Whether or not we agree with the way the RFU & PRL are administering the professional club game (and that is a whole different story), there is now only one route open to Worcester Warriors if we wish to play in the Premiership in seasons to come. The club hierarchy has made no secret of their ambition to return to the Prem but will now need to demonstrate that Sixways has the infrastructure, resources, support and playing squad to compete at the very highest level.
Currently Warriors are dependent on the magnificent attendances at Sixways to bolster their budget for players, coaches and non-rugby employees. In time to come, with the exciting development of Sixways, there is an expectation that "the rugby" will benefit from other income streams. However, in the meantime it is up to us as supporters to keep up the momentum of this season for those to come.
Last year we surprised everyone (even ourselves) by purchasing a staggering 4500 season tickets and buying out the hospitality packages within days. The challenge being set is to keep that number as high as possible and potentially even exceed it. Through sheer demand let's give the club no option but to open the South Stand for Season Ticket holders!
Every season ticket sold gives the club the ability to commit more financially to the squad and demonstrate to the rugby community that we are ready to step up. We must continue to invest in our club if we wish to see it thrive. If Warriors are no longer able to rely on guaranteed income from match-days and ticket-sales then we could potentially miss out on that future opportunity to re-join the highest level of club rugby in England.
We have all seen the recent announcements from various Prem clubs regarding foreign investment. There are also coherent rumours of a giant US franchise investor planning to pump many millions into a ring-fenced league as a majority share-holder. If this does indeed happen then gaining a place in "the promised-land" may no longer be the financially-poisoned chalice that we have feared.
So I exhort you to click on that link in your inbox that says RENEW YOUR SEASON TICKET(S).
Pass the message on to all your friends and family and, if they are amongst the "yet-to-be-converted" encourage them to start their own journey with Worcester Warriors Rugby Club.
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