WORCESTER'S Les Cusworth is calling for a merger of union and league to create a new free-scoring version of rugby for the new millennium. The former England stand-off and assistant manager has spoken out after seeing England suffer a World Cup exit via
WORCESTER Rugby Club recovered from a laboured first-half to record a 58-9 victory against a gritty West Hartlepool who remain bottom and pointless after eight games. The Sixways side outscored their struggling hosts by eight tries to none, but rarely
JAMES Lofthouse was faced with a stark choice, a career in business or a career as a professional rugby player. Rugby lost and he made the difficult decision to leave Sixways and pursue a business studies degree at Newcastle University. It was not an
SCRUM-half Ben Harvey makes a giant leap into the unknown by playing his first ever league game at stand-off for Worcester tomorrow (3.00). The former Richmond number nine will be wearing 10 at West Hartlepool after Tony Yapp suffered shoulder damage
WORCESTER lock Steve Lloyd returns to action this weekend after a three-week lay-off with a bruised back. The 31-year-old former Harlequin has not played since injuring his back at London Welsh but has been named in the second team to face Henley at Sixways
TWO Tongan World cup stars have joined Worcester's promotion race in Allied Dunbar Premiership Two. Full-back Sateki Tuipulotu and scrum-half Sililo Martens impressed Les Cusworth during their World Cup games against New Zealand, Italy and England. They
WORCESTER Rugby Club have been drawn away to National League Kendal in round three of the Tetley Bitter Cup. The Cumbrian club lie second in Jewson Two North with five wins from their opening six league games, but must overcome a gulf of two divisions
WORCESTER Rugby Club have denied reports that new signing Marco Caputo is still a Bedford player. Premiership One Bedford have claimed that the hooker is registered with them and is unable to sign for Worcester. But Worcester's press officer, Nicola Goodwin
NEW signing Marco Caputo could become Worcester Rugby Club's first regular international after receiving clearance to play for Italy in this season's Six Nations championship. The 28-year-old hooker joined Worcester yesterday after a torrid month at cash-strapped
ON the surface nothing has chan-ged for Bruce Fenley, he is Wor-cester's regular scrum-half, he captains the side and Worcester keep on winning. But during the last six months his life has changed dramatically and he is now thriving on new- found space
WORCESTER Rugby Club go gunning for revenge at Sixways tonight against the team which ended their promotion dream last season. Defeat at Coventry in April left Worcester six points behind pacesetters Rotherham with just two games left of a long campaign
WORCESTER Rugby Club maintained their perfect start to the season with a superb comeback which gave them a heart-stopping 20-19 victory at London Welsh. Les Cusworth's team recovered from an early 12-0 deficit and could have argued their second-half dominance
ARGENTINA are to become the second World Cup team to train at Worcester's Sixways ground. The Pumas will be using the facilities on Monday from 11am-4pm, and members of the public are welcome to watch them. Worcester's Director of Rugby Les Cusworth said
LEAGUE leaders Worcester have kept faith with the side which beat promotion rivals Rotherham despite the return of lock Richard Denhardt. The Sixways selectors have named the same XV which won 21-10 at Sixways on Saturday so Denhardt, who has completed
SIMON Devereux is to play his first match for 11 months after being named in Worcester Rugby Club's second team this Saturday. The back row forward ended a nine year spell with Gloucester when he signed for Worcester but he has not played since breaking
WORCESTER Rugby Club have delved into the transfer market yet again to capture centre Shaun Woof from Waterloo. The 22-year-old three-quarter put pen to paper yesterday and then trained with his new team mates in the evening. Liverpool-born Woof has represented
WORCESTER lock Richard Denhardt is available for selection again after serving a three-match ban for the punch that saw him sent off in the opening match of the season. Denhardt was given his marching orders just 55 minutes into the new season for flooring
AN ambitious £16m scheme to transform one of the most depressed areas of Worcester into a paradise for shoppers is to begin in September. St Modwen Developments has obtained final planning consent to create a retail park at Tallow Hill and Pheasant Street
JONAH Lomu has hinted he could be joining English rugby for good after the Rugby World Cup. The mighty winger, who became an overnight sensation at the last World Cup in South Africa, admitted he is open to offers because he will soon be out of contract
WORCESTER'S try-scoring king Nick Baxter will be firing on all cylinders as title rivals Worcester and Rotherham go on a collision course at Sixways tomorrow. Baxter has recovered from an ankle sprain and will start on the left wing for the Allied Dunbar
LES Cusworth believes Worcester's victory over Henley Hawks may prove crucial in the fight for promotion this season. Despite conceding two injury time tries, the Sixways Director of Rugby was pleased with his squad's performance ag-ainst the league newcomers
THE New Zealand All Blacks have confirmed that they will be performing an open training session at Worcester Rugby Club. The international side will be training in front of the crowds at the Sixways Stadium on Saturday, September 25, from 10am-12 noon
A CHARITY supporting young people with brain injuries has been set up in Worcestershire. The county branch of the Child Brain Injury Trust, a national charity formerly known as the Children's Head Injury Trust, runs support groups across Worcestershire
DAVE Merlin has been drafted into Worcester Rugby Club's squad for their Allied Dunbar Pre-miership Two clash at Henley Hawks on Satur-day. He has been called up as flanker Ed Orgee is facing a fitness test on an injured shoulder and fellow back row forward
LES Cusworth has described Worcester Rugby Club's new stand as boasting one of the best views in the land. The club's director of rugby spoke as the new south stand was officially unveiled by the RFU's management board chairman Brian Baister. "It's very
WORCESTER Rugby Club's new chief executive Geoff Cooke described Saturday's 36-7 victory at Manchester as a "dream performance". But the former England coach was referring to the fact they won while played poorly rather than already looking like the finished
LAWRENCE Dallaglio is a possible late inclusion for the London Wasps squad to play against Worcester at Sixways on Saturday. Wasps' Director of Rugby Nigel Melville has requested that the former England captain appear for his club side in the pre-season
NEW signing James Alvis is included in Worcester Rugby Club's squad to face National Cup champions Wasps in a pre-season warm-up match at Sixways on Saturday (3pm). Prop forward Alvis, who previously played for Exeter Chiefs, has been on trial at Sixways
WORCESTER Rugby Club are facing a problem at full-back less than two weeks before the start of the new season. The club have lost three full-backs, John Liley, Tim Smith and Richards Le Bas during the summer and injuries have created further problems.
The carcases of almost 900 cattle and sheep culled because of the foot-and-mouth crisis will have to be exhumed after it emerged that they were buried in the wrong place, the Ministry of Agriculture said today. The blunder sparked fears by the Environment
WORCESTER Rugby Club have included 13 of their summer signings for the training weekend in Cornwall. They include injury victims Simon Devereux, Rohan Hoffman and Jamie Connelly who are all unlikely to be ready for the new season. The squad will spend
ROTHERHAM Rugby Club are confident of victory in their High Court case against the game's ruling bodies. But whether they will get a last minute promotion will depend on the judge's ruling. The case between Rotherham and English First Division Rugby is
WORCESTER Rugby Club are set to decide whether Exeter prop James Alvis can solve a mini crisis in their front row. Talks are continuing to see if the 28-year-old can bolster a squad which has now seen three props leave during the summer. Pete Mitchell
EXETER prop forward James Alvis will be on trial for Worcester as part of the club's first Open Day at Sixways on Sunday. Alvis has been training with the club this week and will take part in one of the squad friendlies against either Midlands Two Malvern
WORCESTER Rugby Club have kept faith with the old guard as they step up their pre-season programme with Sunday's match against Bridgend. So far this summer Sixways has seen 13 new arrivals -- but just five of them figure in the starting line-up this weekend
THE legal challenge that could see Rotherham and Worcester Rugby Clubs promoted to the Allied Dunbar Premiership One is to be heard in the High Court. Rotherham versus English First Division Rugby will open on Monday, August 16, and is expected to last
WORCESTER Rugby Club's fight to get into Allied Dunbar Premiership One has been put on hold. A High Court hearing in Sheffield yesterday to determine the size of the top division has been adjourned until the middle of August. It now seems likely that
EXETER prop forward James Alvis could be the latest new arrival at Sixways. It is understood that the 28-year-old forward has spoken to a number of clubs including Worcester. The 18-stone prop missed just two games for the West Country side last season
ROTHERHAM Rugby Club are to continue their legal action against the reduction of the top division following a fruitless meeting yesterday. Owners of clubs in the top two leagues met yesterday but Rotherham chief executive Mike Yarlett said the breach
WORCESTER Rugby Club are continuing to boost their senior squad with the arrival of two junior England internationals at Sixways. Full-back Elijah Sobanjo (pictured standing) and centre Andrew Higgins have joined the Gold 'n' Blues on professional terms
PORTUGUESE international Rohan Hoffman has become Les Cusworth's thirteenth signing of the season. The 27-year-old full-back arrived at Worcester Rugby Club today to start training with the Gold 'n' Blues. Hoffman, who has played for London Scottish and
FORMER England coach Geoff Cooke is poised to join Worcester Rugby Club as their new Chief Executive. Cooke is currently having talks with Cecil Duckworth, Chairman of WRFC Trading Ltd, regarding the new role. It will cover the running of the club and
COACH Duncan Hall has stunned Worcester Rugby Club by quitting on the eve of the new season. The highly-rated Australian has decided to return Down Under after just one year at Sixways. Rugby club owner Cecil Duckworth said Hall had left on good terms
THE owners of rugby's second division clubs were due to meet at Sixways today with a cloud still hanging over the new season. Top of the agenda will be Rotherham's legal challenge surrounding the reduction of the top flight from 14 to 12 teams. Worcester
Junior international hooker James Richards has become the ninth new signing at Worcester Rugby Club. The 23-year-old Welshman, capped at Under 21 level for his country, arrives at Sixways after two seasons with Bedford where he was an ever-present in
WORCESTER Rugby Club have announced their ticket prices for next season despite their continued quest for first division status. Prices released by the club are for second division rugby but season tickets prices will remain fixed even with a last minute
11/09/00 - WRITING this, Worcestershire's season hangs on a knife-edge needing a win from the final game in the National League to guarantee safety. Defeat at Kent will see them in Division Two next year. The championship is far less clear cut. When the
WITH rain having washed out last Sunday's match with Sussex, this has been a blank week for Worcestershire until yesterday's crucial table-topper with Somerset. This is a competition which the County still have within their own power to win, though with
I CAN imagine the scene prior to this last game with Northamptonshire. In 1997 we visited Wantage Road with Graeme Hick on Test duty, Richard Illingworth and Matthew Rawnsley injured and Vikram Solanki unable to bowl because of a badly bruised finger.
WORCESTER Rugby Club have signed two more players as they prepare for the new season. The Bedford duo of stand-off Tony Yapp and flanker James Cockle were unveiled at Sixways today. They are the seventh and eighth summer signings made by Les Cusworth
WORCESTER Rugby Club were due to announce the signing of two new players today. The Sixways club have picked up winger Matt Walker from Rotherham and West Hartlepool centre Jamie Connolly. Twenty-year-old Walker scored four tries against Worcester last
WORCESTERSHIRE are going well. Dangerous to say it, I know, but they are playing good cricket. The one-day stuff might be a bit "skin of the teeth," but the four-day game has power and class written all over it at the moment. And the really pleasing thing
MIDDLESEX will have been the visitors to New Road this weekend bringing about a number of potential clashes, not least between Angus Fraser and Elliot Wilson. Reviewing county opening batsmen in this month's Cricketer magazine, Gus observed that Elliot
INEVITABLY, the rain has provoked most comment as the new season has got under way. Comments about the foolishness of such an early start have abounded. Interesting, therefore, to note that, last year, Worcestershire opened their campaign on April 13,
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Jan Molby believes central defen-der Craig Hinton's best position is in midfield. And he successfully tested out his theory when he paraded the 23-year-old in central midfield in Saturday's 3-1 Nationwide League Division Three
WHY is it that many parents throw their brains out of the window when driving their offspring to school or playgroup? This was perfectly illustrated the other day. Passing a local pre-school nursery first thing in the morning, in a stack that would embarrass
WORCESTERSHIRE'S hopes of a place in the first division of the County Championship next season are fading following their rain-ravaged draw against Lancashire at New Road. They are now 14 points adrift of the top half of the table where they need to finish
WORCESTERSHIRE were on the receiving end of a whirlwind batting performance from Ian Blackwell when Derbyshire clinched a six-wicket win in the County Championship match at Kidderminster. The 21-year-old left-hander blitzed the County attack for 31 minutes
A CENTURY stand between ton-up star Philip Weston and Graeme Hick gave Worcestershire a chance of beating second-in-the-table Leicestershire in their County Championship game at New Road. In the end, however, the match drifted into a draw with the County
WORCESTERSHIRE'S admirable never-say-die attitude reaped its reward at Wantage Road in the shape of an excellent 112-run victory over sorry Northamptonshire. As fightbacks go, this must figure as one of the best. Even the most adventurous punter would
WORCESTERSHIRE shot up to 12th place in the County Championship table after beating Somerset by 26 runs at New Road yesterday. They had started the game two points adrift at the bottom but stormed to an impressive victory despite a century from Michael
GRAEME Hick compiled a masterly 134 to deny Sussex victory as Worcestershire fought back courageously on the final day of their Championship game at Horsham. Worcestershire were also in-debted to a timely downpour as they were hanging on at 255-9 -- a
Pace duo Chris Liptrot and Stuart Lampitt did their best to make up for lost time when Worcestershire's rain-ravaged County Championship match against Surrey finally got underway at New Road yesterday. They shared nine wickets to help dismiss Surrey for
A DRAW was the only result when Worcestershire's weather-affected Championship game resumed at Durham today. Just 38 overs were possible yesterday but that was enough for the home side to end the day on 153-4, one run ahead of the County's first innings
NOW we've virtually secured our Division Three safety it's time to start looking ahead -- and that means our plans and hopes for next season. There's no doubt we've learned a lot this term and I'm convinced it will make us much wiser and stronger by the
NORDIC LIGHT Royal Strings SCANDINAVIA is a strange place. Half the year it barely gets light at all, and then there are those White Nights where it never gets dark. Then there are the Northern Lights, which surely Vincent Van Gogh must have seen before
So it's official now Glenn McGrath will be playing for Worcestershire next year. This is welcome and heartening news. It's been a long time since Worcestershire have had an imposing fast bowler and cricket lovers in the county will relish the prospect
LOOKING back on Worcestershire's four-day match with Leicestershire, it was a wonderful effort to save the game, batting through four sessions to do so with Phil Weston making a fine 157. It does raise the question, though, of the County's apparent inability
DISAPPOINTING though last Wednesday's defeat against Surrey in the NatWest Trophy was, I don't think we should be too cast down. The Surrey team features 10 internationals while Worcestershire have just four. It was always going to be a tough game, with
WELL, Hicky's touch as captain continues to bed sure and if, between him and Tom, they can secure the signing of Glenn McGrath, then he might have made his most significant contribution as captain yet. The arguments over the best type of overseas player
THE sun is shining but Worcestershire are inactive; the other teams are catching up on the seven County Championship matches which Worcestershire have attempted in this rain-soaked start to the season. Not that we should be blaming the weather after it
AS I write Alamgir Sheriyar has been responsible for 16 out of the last 23 wickets which Worcestershire have taken. This is a remarkable effort, not least in view of the stamina he has displayed in the process. Latest technology employed by Manchester
NEW Road on Bank Holiday Monday looked a picture for the home debut of the National League. Amid the sunshine and the bonhomie the cricket almost seemed incidental. Yet a tight game was played out in which Worcestershire pushed Yorkshire hard before being
THE toss of the coin seems likely to be an early season theme this year. Losing it in Durham was clearly a disadvantage. Winning it against Surrey made the gaining of bonus points much easier in the time available. Winning it at Trent Bridge didn't do
So at last we had some cricket at New Road. Mind you, April 22 and the seventh scheduled day of first class cricket is still earlier than most opening days to a season which I have experienced. I know there are problems fitting everything in with the
ONE idea discussed by the ECB this winter was doing away with the toss of the coin in Championship cricket. The visiting side would be allowed choice of innings to prevent the home side from benefiting from pitches prepared to their advantage. The idea
Evesham Utd 2, Worcester City 2 IT was the result neither side wanted in the midst of the fixture backlog but the draw added more lustre to United's spectacular season. Phil Mullen's side have now failed to be beaten by four higher status sides in knockout
HEREFORD United are targeting a good performance against Woking in the Nationwide Conference tonight (7.45) to help set them up for FA Umbro Trophy glory. Director of Football Graham Turner is confident that United won't take their eyes off tonight's
BROMYARD Town have been given the go-ahead to resume playing again - after being out of action for a month due to the foot and mouth outbreak. The Banks's Brewery League Premier Division club has been hit hard by the outbreak, with their Delehay Meadow
A NINE-GOAL thriller at Perrywood saw visitors Upton Sports come away with a 5-4 victory in a Sunday League Premier Division clash. Jamie Roberts hit a hat-trick for Upton as did Barry Hughes for the Wood. Also in the Premier Division, County Sports thrashed
WORCESTERSHIRE are hoping to return to Kidderminster's Chester Road ground for a County Championship fixture next season. The Essex game, starting on Wednesday, August 9, is favourite to be played at the town ground but talks are still going on. "We have
ENGLAND 'A' and North Island played out their expected draw in freezing conditions in Christ-church today but not before Worcestershire's Vikram Solanki turned in another fine batting performance. Set a token 267 to win in a minimum 43 overs, the hosts
WORCESTERSHIRE have poured cold water on reports from Australia that they may have to re-negotiate their contract with Glenn McGrath. McGrath is likely to be selected for a new one-day series against South Africa next August, which will be played at a
WORCESTERSHIRE'S hopes of a triumphant 2000 season have been hit by news that Australian pace ace Glenn McGrath's appearances will be restricted because of international duties. The 29-year-old fast bowler will miss the County's first three Benson and
ENGLAND 'A' must follow the example of Vikram Solanki as they seek to deal with the oppressive heat of Dhaka and come up with the goods in Friday's day-night match against Bangladesh. Solanki, who made an eye-catching 185 in the tourists' drawn three-day
WORCESTERSHIRE paceman Alamgir Sheriyar is likely to escape punishment after clashing with an umpire during England's 'A' tour of Bangladesh. Sheriyar remonstrated with umpire B.S. Chowdhury after an lbw appeal was turned down on the final day of their
WORCESTERSHIRE have been drawn at home to holders Gloucestershire in the third round of next season's NatWest Trophy. The tie will be staged at New Road on Wednesday, June 21. Gloucestershire beat Somerset in last season's final at Lord's. The Worcestershire
WORCESTERSHIRE'S Graeme Hick missed out when the England and Wales Cricket Board today announced the 12 players who will be offered six-month contracts for the forthcoming series against Pakistan and Australia. The 12 includes 10 members of the side who
WORCESTERSHIRE are on the look-out for new players with a batsman being their main priority. Their search is to be stepped up after missing out on two players they have been tracking recently. The duo have not been named but one is believed to have been
WORCESTERSHIRE County Cricket Club are the masterminds behinds behind a new nationwide grassroots initiative. Earlier this year the County submitted a scheme as part of the 'Improving the Health of English Cricket' project launched by County Championship
A CENTURY stand between Graeme Hick and Stuart Lampitt failed to save Worcestershire from a three-wicket defeat in the one-day clash against a World XI at New Road. They put on 103 in 22 overs for the sixth wicket to enable the County to leave the international
THE tremendous efforts of Glenn McGrath have failed to secure Worcestershire promotion from the County Championship Division Two. In the end they had to settle for fifth place in the table after their rain-ravaged match with champions Northamptonshire
VIKRAM Solanki again confirmed his rich potential with another masterly unbeaten 57 in the rain-affected Championship draw against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. In a game in which almost a days play was lost because of rain, Worcestershire were never in
WORCESTERSHIRE'S County Championship Division Two promotion hopes are sinking fast following their ten wicket mauling against Essex at Kidderminster. Although still holding on to third place in the table, they are 17 points behind leaders Northamptonshire
GLENN McGrath powered Worcestershire back into the County Championship Division Two promotion race with a magical match-winning performance against Gloucestershire at New Road. The Aussie pace ace claimed a career-best match haul of 10-69 as the County
WORCESTER City's fixture pile-up has mounted following the postponement of last night's Dr Martens Cup semi-final at Newport County. A waterlogged pitch at Spytty Park forced the game to be called off for a second time after a 4pm pitch inspection, following
STUART Law struck a brilliant unbeaten 133 to knock Worcestershire off the top of the table with a four wickets defeat at the hands of Essex at Chelmsford yesterday. But the Essex star will be the first to admit he was helped by bowlers who struggled
COACH Bill Athey hopes that table-topping Worcestershire's two-day County Division Two defeat against Sussex at New Road is "just a blip in our progress." Sussex won by eight wickets to send the County crashing to their first Championship reversal of
WORCESTERSHIRE were denied the chance of a third Championship win by another wash-out at Bristol and no one was more frustrated than Vikram Solanki. He was left dangling on 161 needing just 11 more runs for a career-best and no-one sympathised more than
COACH Bill Athey was delighted with the all- round performance of his team after Worcestershire pulled off their second County Championship win in three matches. Worcestershire, after bowling Sussex out for only 148 at Hove, reached their target of 96
FORMER New Road captain Tom Moody is Worcestershire's new Director of Cricket. The 35-year-old will join up with the County at the end of Western Australia's season and plans to be in England for at least nine or ten months each year. Worcestershire secretary
WORCESTERSHIRE'S Glenn McGrath had two huge celebrations two minutes apart when he captured his 300th Test wicket and completed a hat-trick in the first session of the second Test against the West Indies at the WACA in Perth. The Australian paceman blasted
WORCESTERSHIRE'S Glenn McGrath ripped through the brittle West Indies batting to condemn the tourists to their fifth sub-hundred total in two years in an ominous start to the five-Test series in Brisbane today. McGrath took 6-17 as Australia routed the
BRIAN Lara reported Worcestershire's Glenn McGrath for spitting the last time they met in a Test match and the Australian paceman has not forgiven him. "As far as I'm concerned it's a bit more personal this summer due to the last time we came up against
WORCESTERSHIRE paceman Kabir Ali has won the prestigious Cricket Society award for the Most Promising Young Cricketer of the Year. It was presented by The Lord Alexander of Weedon, President of the MCC, at the society's autumn dinner, held at the Royal
FORMER Worcestershire left-arm spinner Richard Illingworth has signed a two-year contract with Derbyshire. The 37-year-old was released by the County in September after 19 seasons at New Road. Illingworth had told Worcestershire that he was happy to play
WORCESTERSHIRE are considering replacing Graeme Hick as captain for next season. A change is likely following Hick's absence for long periods last year because of his England commitments. County chairman John Elliott said: "Graeme is an obvious choice
FORMER Worcestershire spinner Richard Illingworth is being linked with a move to Derbyshire. The 37-year-old was released by the County at the end of last term after 19 seasons at New Road. Illingworth is one of a number of possible new signings by Derbyshire
WARWICKSHIRE'S Anurag Singh today emerged as a red-hot favourite to join Worcestershire in their bid to rise from the ashes of last season's bitterly disappointing campaign. County cricket committee chairman Martin Horton said he was "99 per cent" convinced
VIKRAM Solanki has spoken of his delight after winning a recall to the England cricket set-up for next week's one-day series in Kenya. The Worcestershire batsmen was included in the 14-man squad to play in the ICC Trophy series in Nairobi after opener
VIKRAM Solanki will know today whether he will be involved in England's tour of Kenya for the ICC Trophy one-day series. The Worcestershire batsman has been placed on standby following Nick Knight's on-going knee trouble and a decision will be taken later
WORCESTERSHIRE have signed Australian Test paceman Andy Bichel as their overseas replacement for Glenn McGrath next season. The 30-year-old has been snapped up on the recommendation of McGrath and former County captain Tom Moody. Right-arm fast medium
WORCESTERSHIRE'S nightmare season hit rock bottom yesterday when they were relegated from the Norwich Union National League Division One following a disastrous eight wicket defeat against Kent Spitfires at New Road. After topping the table by eight points
GLENN McGrath is determined to sign off his first County Championship campaign by helping Worcestershire clinch promotion to the First Division. And the Australian pace star is convinced the County will have booked their place in the top flight at the
WORCESTERSHIRE'S National League season touched a new low at Canterbury when they threw away an excellent chance of regaining pole position in the race for the division one title, losing by 44 runs. Jamie Pipe led a blistering assault on the Kent bowlers
WORCESTERSHIRE Royals begin their fight for Norwich Union National League Division One survival when they visit fellow relegation candidates Leicestershire Foxes in a floodlit clash tomorrow. "It's a massive match for us," said New Road coach Bill Athey
WORLD record Test wicket-taker Courtney Walsh is being linked to a possible move to Worcestershire. The New Road club are in the market for an overseas star for next season as their current international player, Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath, will
ACTING captain Steve Rhodes was a ton-up hero for Worcestershire on Saturday - and yesterday was being branded a villian. Rhodes went into the dock for his tactics when bitter rivals Gloucestershire triumphed by three wickets with a ball to spare in their
THE Vale Golf and Country Club overcame local rivals Evesham to book a place in the third round of this year's prestigious Mail on Sunday Classic. The action took place on the Blue Course at the Fladbury links when some competitive matches resulted in
TITLE-chasing Worcestershire Royals were saved by the rain after a poor batting display against Leicestershire Foxes in yesterday's Norwich Union National League Division One match at New Road. The wet weather eventually forced the game to be abandoned
WORCESTERSHIRE Royals are today standing eight points clear at the top of the Norwich Union National League Division One table following a Graeme Hick century in Saturday's tense four-run victory over title-rivals Somerset Sabres at Taunton. The County
GLENN McGrath inspired Worcester Royals to a crucial Old Trafford win over Norwich Union National League champs Lancashire Lightning. Coach Bill Athey underlined its importance saying: "If there is one place you want to win it's here. Fantastic, we had
GLENN McGrath's return will give Worcestershire Royals a huge boost for tomorrow's crucial National League Division One clash with Kent Spitfires at Canterbury (1pm). The Australian paceman, back from a one-day series against South Africa, will spearhead
SUBSTANTIAL financial aid for Worcestershire CCC continues to be forthcoming from the County's Supporters Association. In spite of reduced income in the year ending December 31 last, the supporters provided the County with a £12,000 handout. This was
HEREFORD United are targeting a good performance against Woking in the Nationwide Conference tonight (7.45) to help set them up for FA Umbro Trophy glory. Director of Football Graham Turner is confident that United won't take their eyes off tonight's
TON-UP hero Vikram Solanki and up-and-coming James Pipe masterminded a spirited Worcestershire fightback in the County Championship Division Two match with rivals Warwickshire at New Road. The on-song duo helped the County recover from a nightmare 8-3
WORCESTERSHIRE CCC have turned to the Saints for their new commercial manager. Tom Sears, a 31-year-old from Huntingdonshire, has been attracted to the New Road post from from his present position as communications and marketing manager with rugby union
WORCESTERSHIRE'S plans for a beat-the-clock helicopter flight to enable Glenn McGrath to play in next week's home County Championship Division Two match against Warwickshire have been grounded. The match has now been brought forward a day dashing the
WORCESTERSHIRE were on the slippery slope to defeat in their County Championship Division Two match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road today. They were pushed nearer an innings reversal when Steve Rhodes was removed after adding only a single to
WORCESTERSHIRE have cleared any member of the New Road staff of being responsible for the Kabir Ali affair which led to the club having to replay their controversial NatWest Trophy tie against Gloucestershire. County members have been told of the internal
ALAMGIR Sheriyar takes over as Worcestershire's number one strike bowler from absent Glenn McGrath for the County Championship Division Two match at Northampton starting tomorrow. McGrath jets out to Australia at the weekend to play in a series of indoor
TABLE-topping Worcestershire Royals hope Glenn McGrath can say a temporary farewell tomorrow with another match-winning performance. The County meet Northamptonshire Steelbacks in their floodlit Norwich Union National League Division One clash at Northampton
JAMES Pipe is in line to make his County Championship debut for table-topping Worcestershire in the division two match against Essex which opens at Chelmsford tomorrow. The County plan to parade the 22-year-old reserve wicketkeeper as a batsman following
WORCESTERSHIRE face bitter rivals Gloucestershire tomorrow for the first time since their controversial NatWest Trophy replay with a rallying call from New Road coach Bill Athey. "We've got to fight like hell to stay at the top," he said as the County
WORCESTERSHIRE are awaiting the result of a medical check on young paceman Kabir Ali before finalising their side for the County Championship Division Two match against Nottinghamshire which opens at New Road tomorrow. The talented teenager has been suffering
THE saga of Worcestershire's controversial NatWest Trophy clash with Gloucestershire looks set to drag on until at least tomorrow night. The County's fate in the competition has been thrown in doubt following Gloucestershire's claim that young paceman
WORCESTERSHIRE expect to know later today whether they will have to replay their NatWest Trophy third round clash against Gloucestershire. Their place in the competition has been thrown into doubt following claims by Gloucestershire that the County fielded
PROMISING young batsman Kadeer Ali has been called up by Worcestershire for their one-day tour match against New Zealand 'A' at New Road on Monday. The 17-year-old will get his chance after scoring centuries in the last two matches for the Second XI.
SURELY the city planners must realise there is a problem with parking in Ronkswood (Evening News, March 26). So, instead of building more offices at the new hospital site, a multi-storey car park would have been more appropriate. Another example is the
GRAEME Hick hopes to make a winning send-off for Worcestershire tomorrow before embarking on a sustained spell of England duty. Hick is due to lead the County in their top-of-the-table Norwich Union Division One clash with Somerset Sabres at Taunton (
IT was recently suggested that a George Cowley Appreciation Society be formed. By the sheer volume of his banal witterings (cries of "shame" from the gallery) appearing daily on the letters page, I should think he already has one at the Evening News.
REGARDING the Counterpoints article about Mother's Day (Evening News, March 22), my poor old mum died suddenly in 1975, aged 69. My dad died suddenly in 1970, aged 57- I have, at 64, outlived him by seven years. I really deeply believe we shall all three
BATSMAN Ryan Driver will make his NatWest Trophy debut for Worcestershire when they take on holders Gloucestershire in a third round clash at New Road tomorrow. The Truro-born 21-year-old previously played in the competition for Cornwall against Warwickshire
ON March 23, a Scottish spokesman, speaking on BBC1 during the 10 O'clock news claimed that if foot-and-mouth was eradicated in Scotland but persisted in England, the "border would be closed"! This is appalling. I understand that there have not, as yet
WORCESTERSHIRE coach Bill Athey believes England will have to pull out all the stops if they are to win this summer's tough five-Test series against the West Indies. "They are a formidable side and very difficult to deal with," said former England batsman
WORCESTERSHIRE Royals will be without skipper Graeme Hick for their Norwich Union National League Division One clash against Northamptonshire Steelbacks at New Road tomorrow (1pm). As one of England's contracted players, he has been ordered by Lord's
GRAEME Hick and Paul Pollard return for Worcestershire's County Championship Division Two match against Gloucestershire which opens at Bristol tomorrow. Captain Hick is back after his century-making exploits for England against Zimbabwe at Lord's while
REUBEN Spiring and Ryan Driver are the chief candidates to replace Graeme Hick in the PPP healthcare County Championship Division Two clash with Sussex at Hove, starting tomorrow. Spiring is fit again after missing last week's victory over Middlesex,
WORCESTERSHIRE crashed to a heavy defeat in their Second Eleven Championship game with Glamorgan at New Road. The visitors, resuming on 184-4 overnight, finally declared on 261-9. Mark Wallace was top scorer with 82, while trialists Roger Sillence and
ANOTHER good batting display from James Pipe helped Worcestershire take control in their Second Eleven Championship match with Glamorgan at New Road. Wicketkeeper Pipe, who hit 56 for the Worcestershire Cricket Board in their NatWest Trophy game on Monday
WORCESTERSHIRE'S opening batsman Philip Weston will be out of action for at least another three weeks. He is being sidelined for longer than expected following surgery on his left knee. Weston has yet to make his first appearance of the season because
NEW Road supporters will get their first sight of pace star Glenn McGrath when he makes his County Championship debut for Worcestershire against Glamorgan tomorrow. "It will be good to get under way at home and hopefully play well enough for us to win
GLENN McGrath will make his debut for Worcestershire in next Friday's Benson and Hedges Cup clash with Somerset at Taunton. The Australian pace star is set to arrive in this country on Tuesday when they County will be entertaining Gloucestershire in another
GLENN McGrath's capture has prompted bookmakers Coral to make Worcestershire second favourites to win the County Championship second division. They are quoted at 100-30, while arch-rivals Warwickshire are favourites at 15-8. Australian pace star McGrath
A FINE bowling performance from all-rounder David Lea-therdale could not save Worcestershire from a four-wicket defeat in their pre-season friendly with Hampshire at Southampton. Worcestershire's new captain Graeme Hick saw his side struggle with the
WORCESTERSHIRE have stepped up their training preparations for the coming campaign with regular net sessions at New Road which follow last week's rigorous 'warm-up' schedule in Portugal. The current cold weather may have come as a bit of a shock after
ENGLAND legend Ian Botham has been surprisingly overlooked from Wisden's five leading players of the last century following a specially-commissioned poll of 100 former cricketers and journalists. The former Worcestershire all-rounder, widely regarded
WORCESTERSHIRE batsman Reuben Spiring and paceman Maneer Mirza are on course to end their injury nightmares. Both have come through rigorous fitness checks and are stepping up their training programme with the rest of the County players in Portugal this
STAR batsman Graeme Hick has run up a Worcestershire record £345,406 for his 1999 benefit. The bumper figure was re-vealed by the New Road club today. The previous highest Worcestershire benefit total was £271,275 for left-arm spinner Richard Illingworth
WORCESTERSHIRE all-rounder Gavin Haynes is set to miss the start of the new season because of injury. The 30-year-old has undergone a knee operation which is likely to rule him out for when the campaign opens on April 15 with an away Benson and Hedges
WORCESTERSHIRE skipper Graeme Hick is one of 12 players to have been awarded a central contract by England today. However, there is no place on the list for his County team-mate and fellow winter tourist Vikram Solanki. Hick's inclusion means he will
WORCESTERSHIRE have asked the ECB to discuss with the International Cricket Councul the issue of late arrangement of international games. The County's move follows a change to the original dates for their tour match against the West Indies this season
WORCESTERSHIRE will face a captaincy dilemma if Graeme Hick becomes part of England's elite group of centrally-contracted players. The County do not have a designated vice-captain if the New Road batsman is required for international duty. Steve Rhodes
WORCESTERSHIRE'S fixture with the touring West Indians at New Road has been re-scheduled. Originally a four-day game planned for Wed-nesday, May 31, to Saturday, June 3, it will now be a three-day match played from Friday, June 2, to Sunday, June 4. The
GRAEME Hick the prolific one-day international batsman needs no introduction -- but Hick the bowler has become a forgotten man in the last year. That was until England captain Nasser Hussain enlisted the Worcestershire captain's off-spin in Sunday's nine-wicket
WORCESTERSHIRE'S Vikram Solanki is determined to take one step at a time on a route he hopes will lead to Test match selection. "Every county cricketer has aspirations to play for England at Test level and I'm no different," said the talented 23-year-old
GRAEME Hick hopes to force his way back into Test match contention by making a major impact in England's forthcoming one-day internationals against South Africa and Zimbabwe. "I've got a few years left in me yet and I'd like to spend a few of them playing
WORCESTERSHIRE'S new pace ace Glenn McGrath grabbed 5-48 to help Australia beat India by an innings and 141 runs with two days to spare in the third and final Test in Sydney today. McGrath was in deadly form to finish the match with a ten-wicket haul
CHRIS Raymond's return to Old Patesians means his rugby career has now come full circle. The South West division one side is where the 32-year-old Worcester Rugby Club lock began his career and it will now be the place where he will eventually hang up
WORCESTER Rugby Club's ladies first team will be playing in front of an expected crowd of 12,000 this weekend when they take to the field at Leicester Tigers' Welford Road ground. They are playing a special exhibition match of 'tens' against Lichfield
TWO of Worcester Rugby Club's loan rangers at Bedford will not be coming back to Sixways. Centre Jamie Connolly and utility back Duncan Hughes have both received letters stating their contracts will not be renewed in the summer. The pair went to Premiership
THE players who ran out at The Reddings today are the privileged few as the curtain falls on 120 years of rugby at the famous venue. It will be a poignant moment for all who care about sport, never mind rugby. Tradition has crashed head-on with business
CENTRE Andy Currier comes into the Worcester Rugby Club team for tomorrow's historic clash at Moseley (3pm) -- the last game at The Reddings after 120 years of rugby. Injuries to both Rob Myler and Andrew Higgins sees Currier start his first game for
Worcester will have two men's sides next season following the formation of the amateur Worcester Wanders. The new side was officially formed at a founding meeting at Sixways this week and they will play in North Midlands Three next season. Around 50 current
TOM Moody's cherished ambition to leave behind a trophy in the Worcestershire cabinet before departing for Western Australia was left in tatters in the gathering gloom at Southampton last night. With leaders Lancashire Lightning defeating Kent at Old
WORCESTER Rugby Club chief executive Geoff Cooke has denied reports the playing squad all are being put on part-time contracts. He said Worcester has been in touch with businesses and colleges for work and training placements but added that players will
GEOFF Cooke's Worcester Rugby Club side are aiming to finish their Sixways fixtures on a high and bury the memory of last week's shock defeat at Rugby. He has again rung the changes for the visit of Manchester in Premiership Two (3pm). Stephen Ward makes
TOM Moody, Graeme Hick and Stuart Lampitt joined forces to help Worcestershire Royals keep the pressure on leaders Yorkshire Phoenix with a seven-wicket win over Hampshire Hawks in the National League Division One clash at New Road. For the County it
WORCESTER Rugby Club have started to tighten their purse strings by axing three members of their first team squad. Prop Mark Linnett, hooker Dean Ball and flanker Lee Denham are the first casualties of the club's failure to reach Premiership One for the
WORCESTER Rugby Club will be without captain Richard Denhardt and Tongans Sateki Tuipulotu and Sililo Martens for the rest of the season. Denhardt and Tuipulotu were both injured during Saturday's disastrous 21-15 defeat at struggling Rugby Lions. The
GEOFF Cooke's fresh approach to the Worcester team sees 21-year-old scrum-half Chris Simpson-Daniel make his debut for the first team. The former Gloucester half-back starts at Rugby Lions tomorrow in Cooke's second team since taking temporary charge
BILL Athey made a shock comeback for Worcestershire -- and figured strongly in the Royals' magnificent win over National League title holders Lancashire Lightning. "Definitely a one-off," smiled the New Road coach who wore the number 41 shirt to match
WORCESTER Rugby Club have joined forces with their second division rivals to maintain their right to automatic promotion into the top-flight. They are also asking the Rugby Football Union why franchises must be a key element of Rob Andrew's blueprint
GEOFF Cooke took his first training session at Sixways yesterday aiming to lift a squad rocked by the sacking of Les Cusworth. And the former England coach is looking for a quick response from the side which lost 42-0 at Rotherham on Saturday -- just
TWO trialists will play for Worcester's development side tonight in a friendly against Malvern. Prop Haydn Jeffreys from Oxford University and Cinderford flanker Oliver Horsman could both start the fixture at Sixways (7pm). Worcester have also named a
WORCESTER Rugby Club are to miss out on promotion for the second year running after suffering a humbling 42-0 defeat at leaders Rotherham. The match pitched together first and third in Allied Dunbar Premiership Two, but it looked more like another mismatch
NEW Road cricket committee chairman Martin Horton has hit out at the central contracts system for England players which severely restricted Graeme Hick's appearances for Worcestershire this season. "They have been absolute chaos," said Horton as the inquest
11/09/00 - WORCESTERSHIRE are about to set off on the final lap of a season which has had its fair share of trials and tribulations. On Wednesday Northamptonshire visit New Road to launch the last County Championship Division Two match while on Sunday
VIKRAM Solanki was obviously delighted when he became the first Worcestershire player this season to complete 1,000 first-class runs -- but he's convinced he should have done it quicker! The stylish 24-year-old reached the magical milestone during last
GLENN McGrath is aiming to make up for lost time with Worcestershire following his 17-day break "Down Under". The deadly pace ace has been away on one-day international duty for Australia against South Africa and is now gearing up to boost his already
THE road to cricketing success can have its ups and downs -- as Worcestershire's Kabir and Kadeer Ali have found out. The teenage cousins have both been thrust under the first team spotlight this season with contrasting fortunes. Nineteen-year-old Kabir
GLENN McGrath jetted out to Australia at the weekend with a rallying call to his Worc-estershire team-mates. And among those he's backing to help keep the County's glory hope alive during his absence is fellow paceman Alamgir Sheriyar. McGrath, in Australia
WORCESTESHIRE spinner Matthew Rawnsley is convinced the time has come to step up his career plans at New Road. "I've got to see my target as starting in the first team next year," said the determined 24-year-old. This season he had to wait for his chance
DAVID Leatherdale is on course to reach a personal milestone for the second time in his long Worcestershire career. And that's to complete 1,000 first class runs in a season -- just as he did in 1998 when he nudged past the magical figure by notching
EVER-improving Ryan Driver is on the road to what he hopes will be a highly successful career with Worcestershire. And before the end of the season he'd dearly love to reach one milestone in particular -- a first-class hundred. "I'm not sure what my feelings
OPENING batsman Paul Pollard has put last season's injury nightmares behind him and is hoping to help Worcestershire complete a dream season. So far his most valuable innings have been in the National League Division One, but the 31-year-old former Nottinghamshire
FLYING Worcester winger Mat Walker returns to his former club tomorrow believing his new team-mates can spring a surprise. The Premiership Two leaders have won all 17 games since losing at Sixways in September and are now favourites to reach the play-offs
WORCESTER Rugby Club have shuffled their pack to conjure up a mixture of youth and experience as they aim to break Rotherham's three-year unbeaten home run. The Sixways men must win at Clifton Lane to have even the slimmest hope of catching the Premiership
ELLIOTT Wilson is determined to learn his trade as a cricketer with Worcestershire after putting his university studies on hold. And, so far, the up-and-coming 23-year-old is passing his batting examinations for the County with flying colours as he proved
STEVE Rhodes will soon be leading Worcestershire into County Championship action in the absence of captain Graeme Hick -- and he's determined to make a good job of it! The popular New Road wicketkeeper warmed up to the task by skippering the side last
LEE Denham will miss Worcester's home clash with London Welsh on Saturday because of a neck and shoulder injury. The blindside flanker played just 25 minutes of Worcester's Premiership Two victory over Exeter Chiefs on Friday and was later taken to hospital
WORCESTER centre Andrew Higgins has received yet another England call-up after being drafted into the Under 19s squad for the FIRA Youth World Cup in May. The 19-year-old has already played for England Under 21s and trained with the full England squad
NEIL Lyman may have the trappings of a professional sportsman's life -- but he has not forgotten the club which helped start his career. The prop forward's first taste of club rugby came at Kidderminster Carolians, the newly crowned champions of Midlands
WORCESTER have promoted another of their young guns to the first team. The Gold 'n' Blues have drafted 20-year-old Simon Daws into their side for their Allied Dunbar Premiership Two match with Exeter tomorrow night. The open side flanker will make his
The effect on Worcester Rugby Club of the most dramatic and possibly most far reaching four-and-a-half minutes of the season, was cataclysmic. Stunned silence from their travelling fans greeted the stoppage time try which virtually finished their chance
FLANKER Lee Denham could be handed a late birthday present by Worcester director of rugby Les Cusworth. The recent signing from title rivals Leeds, who celebrated his 26th birthday earlier this week, is in line to make his Allied Dunbar Premiership Division
WORCESTER Rugby Club's talented teenage centre Andy Higgins is celebrating a surprise England call-up. The 18-year-old has been drafted into the full England squad for next week's Six Nations Championship clash with Italy in Rome. Higgins, the first Worcester
FROM the moment anyone starts a new sport they start dreaming of the ultimate -- to represent their country. And in centre Andrew Higgins Worcester have a teenager making giant strides towards what is usually just a flight of fancy for the vast majority
TONIGHT'S friendly between Worcester Rugby Club's development team and Cheltenham at Sixways has been cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch. The game, due to kick off at 7pm tonight, was called off following an inspection yesterday. But Worcester have
WORCESTER Rugby Club have made their 27th signing of the season by signing super-sub Lee Denham from Leeds. The Worcester-born blind side flanker has joined until the end of the season after being released by one of Worcester's Premiership Two promotion
WORCESTER Rugby Club are back in the promotion race after emerging unscathed from a ten-try thriller against Wakefield at Sixways. They were sometimes brilliant in attack and then leaky in defence but moved into second place in Premiership Two with a
WORCESTER have sign-ed some big name players and internationals this season yet have experienced the triumph and tragedy prop Andy Collins has witnessed at Twickenham. For the 25-year-old former Bristol and Pontypridd forward, who moved the Sixways this
BACK row forward Simon Devereux is considering his future in rugby after becoming the latest casualty of the upheavals at Worcester. The 31-year-old former Glou-cester star has been removed from the first team squad and may quit the game altogether. He
WORCESTERSHIRE neatly side-stepped a banana skin lying in wait for them at Exmouth to beat Devon by 45 runs and book a home tie with Surrey in the fourth round of the NatWest Trophy. Devon are no mugs at the one-day game -- they have won the Minor Counties
WORCESTER Rugby Club have cancelled a friendly against Bristol's development side due to injury problems in the front row. Hooker Chris Hall and props Andy Robinson and Bennett Smith were both injured while playing for the U21s against England U19s on
WORCESTER'S Under 21s put up a brave showing before losing 26-12 to England Under 19s at Sixways last night. In an open and entertaining game Worcester scored two tries through hooker Chris Hall and flanker Brett Scriven, while Chris Holder, playing at
WORCESTER Rugby Club clawed their way back into the promotion hunt by moving two points closer to leaders Leeds with a 57-3 demolition of West Hartlepool at Sixways. Leeds' 15-3 defeat at London Welsh means Worcester are now back in the hunt when just
TWENTY-year-old flanker Brett Scriven has been thrown into the Premiership Two promotion race after being handed his first team debut for Worcester. The former Welsh colt starts at blindside flanker against bottom club West Hartlepool because James Cockle
THIEVES took drinks and sweets worth almost £3,000 in a night-time raid in Pershore. Blue Bird Vendings was targeted in the theft, which happened between Saturday and Sunday. Flavoured drinks valued at around £2,800 and confectionery worth £100 were stolen
CENTRE Richard Tomlinson is considering quitting rugby after being released by Worcester. The reliable inside-centre has not played first team rugby since breaking his leg against Rugby in October 1998 and is now working as a surveyor full-time. His injury
THREE of Worcester's first team squad were set to complete loan deals to Bedford today. Backs Duncan Hughes and Jamie Connolly along with lock Dave Sims will be part of the Premiership's One clubs relegation battle until June. All three played for Bedford
THREE Sixways stars were due to play for Bedford in a trial today before thrashing out loan or transfer deals on Monday. Lock Dave Sims, centre Jamie Connolly and utility back Duncan Hughes are all in the Bedford squad to face Banbury. Their move comes
WORCESTER'S teenage centre Andrew Higgins was due to meet up with the England U21 squad today ahead of his debut against Ireland on Friday. And the 18-year-old has revealed he was the last person to know about his promotion from the U19s to the U21s.
WORCESTER'S teenage centre Andrew Higgins has been propelled into the international limelight after being chosen in the England Under 21 squad at the age of 18. Higgins was originally chosen for the U19s but has now been fast-tracked after some outstanding
WORCESTER went down 19-15 to Midlands rivals Moseley under the Sixways floodlights last night. The home side could have snatched victory in the last five minutes, but fullback Duncan Hughes was judged to have touched the corner flag a fraction of a second
IT was easily the hardest decision of his rugby career -- but after hours of thought Ali McLaughlin has decided to swap his Worcester shirt for a Stourbridge one. His loan deal announced this week ends a run at Worcester which stretches back 15 years
WORCESTER Rugby Club's seconds will play Moseley in a friendly at Sixways on Friday night (7pm). The fixture was arranged yesterday after Gloucester pulled out of a reserve team fixture due to be played on Saturday. Worcester have chosen a squad packed
ALI McLaughlin has gone on loan to Stourbridge from Worcester Rugby Club. The arrangement means centre McLaughlin will get competitive first team action but Worcester can recall him in 48 hours notice. McLaughlin has been involved in the first team for
WORCESTER full-back Sateki Tuipulotu is undergoing trial by video after an alleged off-the-ball incident with Waterloo's captain Wayne Morris. Both Waterloo and Worcester have been studying videos of the game looking for a possible head butt or punch
WINGER Rob Myler is set to use the frustration of missing Worcester's biggest game of the season as a spur to helping the side stay in the promotion race. The 29-year-old former rugby league star is set for a return to first team action at Waterloo on
WORCESTER scored a one-sided 41-3 victory over struggling Orrell on Saturday to ease the pain of last weekend's defeat against Leeds. But with both Leeds and Rotherham winning handsomely they will just have to get used to being frustrated on a Saturday
CLUB captain Bruce Fenley and leading points scorer Tony Yapp both return for the trip to Orrell on Saturday as Worcester bid to get their promotion hopes back on course. The scrum-half and stand-off come in for Sililo Martens and new signing David Pears
PHIL Maynard's long and distinguished service to Worcester Rugby Club has been recognised with a prestigious national award. The club's director of player management, who has now been at Sixways for seven years, was presented with an unsung hero award
WORCESTER Rugby Club's millionaire backer Cecil Duckworth said there will not be wholesale changes following Saturday's devastating defeat against Leeds. The 12-6 reverse at Sixways has left Worcester relying on other teams' results even though they have
WORCESTER'S new signing Andy Currier rates his new side as the best in the division after gaining first hand experience of the Premiership's top three. The centre has played against Worcester, Rotherham and Leeds this season with his former club London
WORCESTER Rugby Club will delay naming their side until tomorrow for their crunch Allied Dunbar Premiership Two title clash with Leeds at Sixways (3.00). They will select from a 22-man squad with the only notable absentee being fly-half Tony Yapp. He
INJURIES and illness are hampering Worcester Rugby Club in the build-up to the biggest game of the season so far against Leeds on Saturday. Winger Rob Myler will be out for at least three weeks after damaging knee ligaments against London Irish on Monday
WORCESTER Rugby Club's experienced coach Phil Maynard is urging the players to believe in themselves to score an historic win on Monday. The Sixways Director of Player Management said defence will be key to Worcester winning the Tetley's Bitter Cup round
WORCESTER Rugby Club have the luxury of a virtual full-strength squad to face London Irish a week on Monday. A flu bug and a number of injuries have disrupted selection for the past month but they now have a full squad to pick from. Duncan Hughes is the
WORCESTER Rugby Club survived a scare before scoring a crucial 30-22 victory against Midlands rivals Moseley at Sixways. They cruised into a early 10-0 lead, fell behind by half-time, but recovered for a crucial win which takes them back to the top of
WORCESTER Rugby Club have welcomed plans to overhaul the structure of the English game despite the threat of promotion being stopped for four years. Chief executive Geoff Cooke said plans unveiled yesterday by Rob Andrew would still allow Worcester to
FITNESS doubts have caused Worcester Rugby Club to put their players through an extra training session today ahead of tomorrow's crucial derby at home to Moseley. They have delayed naming their side until tomorrow when they will assess who will be available
NOT so long ago it was certainly the Holy Grail but Sunday's disrupted launch of the North Midlands Cup poses a question. Is it time to think the unthinkable and axe the dinosaur? It would certainly allow the increasingly important and expanding leagues
WORCESTER Rugby Club are on course for a 5,500 sell-out for their Tetley's Bitter Cup fourth round clash with London Irish. Only 800 tickets are available for the Premiership One side's visit to Sixways on Monday, January 3 (2.30), and the club expect
WORCESTER second team found themselves outgunned for pace and power as they went down 59-7 to Leicester Extras last night. Despite fielding a side containing a number of first team regulars, Worcester were given a lessons in creating and taking try-scoring
IT was a mixed week for local MPs on the fox-hunting front. Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff saw his Middle Way option kicked in to the long grass. He had devoted hours to the compromise proposal, which would have allowed hunting to continue under strict
WHEN Prime Minister Tony Blair came to Worcester last week to insist the Government understood farmers' plight he met John Bennett, of Manor Farm in Lower Wick. Mr Bennett's father, Alderman T S Bennett, greeted a rather more distinguished Prime Minister
FOOTBALL nut Mike Foster has been doing his bit for the beautiful game in the Commons. The city MP, who recently screamed himself hoarse while watching his beloved Birmingham City, has leapt to the defence of armchair enthusiasts across the world. Noticing
SCRUM-half Steve Powell has ended a 13-year association with Worcester Rugby Club by signing for Premiership Two rivals Moseley. The 24-year-old made his Moseley debut on Saturday playing the final ten minutes of their 30-15 defeat against Rotherham at
Midwinter Of The Spirit by Phil Rickman, (Macmillan, £16.99) Having seen and loved the notorious horror film The Exorcist I was dying to read Phil Rickman's novel about exorcism set in and around Hereford. It had all the ingredients to give me the heebee
