Worcester Warriors Women
Full nameWorcester Warriors Women
UnionRFUW
Founded1993
Ground(s)Sixways Stadium, Worcester
Director of RugbyEngland Jo Yapp
Captain(s)Scotland Lyndsay O'Donnell
League(s)Premier 15s
2021–228th
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.warriorswomen.co.uk
Current season

Worcester Warriors Women, formerly known as Worcester Valkyries, are a women's rugby union club in Worcester, Worcestershire, England. They were founded in 1993, as Worcester Ladies, and play in the Premier 15s.[1] They were originally created as the women's team of Worcester Wanderers, but became part of the English Premiership team Worcester Warriors' organisation ahead of the 2016/17 season. They subsequently became an independent entity during the 2022–23 season on the demise of their parent company.[2]

History

Worcester Ladies were formed in 1993 by Mark Edwards, who also set up women's rugby union teams at Droitwich RFC and Malvern RFC.[3] They initially played in the national leagues. In 1998, they were promoted into the Women's Premiership for the first time.[4] Worcester Ladies has close links with the University of Worcester with some players playing for both Worcester Ladies and the University of Worcester's women's rugby union team.[5] In 2013, Worcester Ladies won their first Women's Premiership title after a bonus-point victory against Wasps Ladies to stop Richmond Women winning a fourth consecutive title.[6]

Worcester Ladies have a local rivalry with Lichfield Ladies.[7] Being affiliated to Worcester Warriors, Worcester Ladies play their home matches at Worcester Warriors' Sixways Stadium.[4]

In August 2022, Warriors Women and the University of Worcester agreed a multi-year landmark deal which would see the team renamed University of Worcester Warriors.[8]

Due to ongoing financial difficulties experienced in 2022. Worcester Warriors Women were suspended from all competitions on 26 September 2022 and the company was placed into administration.[9]

The suspension was temporarily lifted on 26 October when it was confirmed that University of Worcester Warriors had received funding and insurance to compete until Christmas 2022.[10]

In October 2023, Worcester withdrew from the 2023–24 Premiership Women's Rugby league and cup competitions. This decision was made after the club's owners, Cube International, chose to cut the team's funding.[11]

Notable players

Worcester Ladies have had a number of internationals play for them. Joanne Yapp, Samantha Dale and Kat Marchant both played for the England women's national rugby union team. Former England women's captain, Catherine Spencer also played for Worcester.[12] Donna Kennedy played for both Worcester and the Scotland women's national rugby union team, whom she earned 100 caps for.[13] The current squad includes England internationals Lydia Thompson (rugby union), Laura Keates and Canadian international Paige Farries

Coaching

In 2010, Worcester Ladies hired former Jersey player, Luke Fisher as their head coach.[14]

In June 2017, the Valkyries appointed former Bristol Ladies Head Coach Roy Davies as Director of Rugby[15]

In October 2019, former England captain Jo Yapp took over as director of rugby[16]

References

  1. ^ "Worcester Ladies". RFU. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  2. ^ "Worcester Warriors Women". 19 January 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Tributes for a rugby veteran; DROITWICH County clubs mourning after player dies on pitch". Birmingham Mail (archived at Thefreelibrary.com). 10 November 2005. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Worcester ladies are a knockout". Sunday Mercury (archived at Thefreelibrary.com). 13 February 2000. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  5. ^ "University student to coach at Ugandan Tag Rugby Tournament". University of Worcester. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Worcester win Women's Premiership title". BBC Sport. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Women's Premiership: Round One Wrap". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Worcester Warriors | University of Worcester and Worcester Warriors agree landmark partnership". warriors.co.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Worcester suspended from competition after owners miss RFU deadline | Rugby union | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Worcester Warriors and Wasps given green light to compete despite administration". ITV News. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Worcester Warriors Women: Premiership Women's Rugby side pull out of 2023-24 season". BBC Sport. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Worcester Ladies in England win". BBC Sport. 10 February 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  13. ^ "A salute to Scottish rugby's only centurion, Donna Kennedy". The Herald (archived at Highbeam). Archived from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  14. ^ "Luke Fisher gets Worcester Ladies job". BBC Sport. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  15. ^ "Former Bristol boss Davies is new Valkyries director of rugby". Worcester News. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Yapp appointed Warriors Women Director of Rugby". Warriors.co.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
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