Volunteers clean for Worcester Warriors' return

About 80 Worcester Warriors fans have been getting the stands and seats ready at Sixways Stadium, before the men's team's first official home game in nearly three years.

Warriors will mark their professional return to rugby union, after going into administration, with a pre-season fixture against Premiership champions Bath Rugby on 19 September.

Worcester are to play in England's second tier - called Champ Rugby, rather than the Championship - from the start of the season.

Club CEO Stephen Vaughan said Thursday's effort "kind of just encapsulates Worcester Warriors at the moment", saying it was "a united effort".

He added: "We've got branding going in, we've got fanzones going in, we've got carpenters here... you name it, sparkies.

"[People are] weeding, dusting down seats, taking Covid stickers off from years ago, painting, picking litter.

"[It's] all to get us in the right place for a full house on the 19th of September."

Attention is being given to thousands of seats

In September 2022, the club were suspended from all competitions over an unpaid tax debt of about £6m.

Players and staff had their contracts terminated, resulting in the men's team not competing since.

Worcester will start their Champ Rugby campaign with a Midlands derby at home against Coventry on 4 October.

On Thursday the club announced five signings - ex-Harlequins second-row Tom Golder, back Chris Preen fresh from Loughborough University, London Scottish hooker Austin Wallis, tighthead prop Ashley Challenger, from London Scottish, and former Bristol Bears winger Siva Naulago.

The city council said the return to the second tier could contribute about £29.6m to the local economy through tourism and match-day activity.

Jenny Bodfish was among the volunteers taking part

Worcester Warriors Supporters Trust chairman Marcus Mulcahy said it was thought about 7,500 seats had to be cleaned.

He added some in the south stand were "a bit broken, so those need fixing".

Asked about the state of seats, three years after last having Warriors fans there, Mr Mulcahy replied: "I think some are worse than others.

"There's chewing gum on quite a few, which isn't particularly nice. We've got a few broken finger nails."

The first official home game in nearly three years will see Warriors host Premiership champions Bath on 19 September

Trust treasurer Gabby Radford said "so many people" had offered support and she was not surprised by the response.

"If anyone is feeling half of how we feel, they're just so excited," she said.

"If they have the time, which a lot of people have today to give up... they want to do their little bit."

Warriors will be playing in the second tier, known as Champ Rugby