Ulster coach Jonny Bell saddened by Worcester Warriors' demise

When Jonny Bell swapped for Worcester for Ulster during the summer, little did he realise that within months the English club would find itself battling extinction.

Bell spent last season at Worcester Warriors as defence coach before agreeing to return home and, like many, he was left shocked and saddened when the club was placed into administration.

Wasps followed Worcester into administration on Monday, making a further 167 people redundant, with the English Premiership now operating as an 11-team competition.

"It's hugely disappointing," Bell told RTÉ Sport. "My heart goes out to the players and staff, and the commercial side of the business too. It’s a very sad state of affairs.

"I just hope down the track that things can improve and they put some things in place to make sure this sort of thing is more regulated and doesn’t happen again. I’ve got a lot of friends who are out of work. It’s worrying.

"I was only at Worcester for a year but there’s a real sense of identity there. It’s not a big place but the supporters are hugely proud of their team.

"Worcester hasn’t been hugely successful over the last few years but there’s a strong identity with the area and what they represent. I feel for the supporters as well who haven’t got a team to go to, but especially those players and staff who have worked incredibly hard in very trying circumstances."

While sympathetic to the plight of his former colleagues, Bell is both relieved and delighted to be back with his native province, who have made a promising start to the BKT United Rugby Championship.

They tackle the Cell C Sharks in Durban on Saturday, having opened their South African tour with a thrilling 39-37 success over the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg last weekend.

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