Worcester pull out of pre-season game with Glasgow amid uncertain future

Worcester have pulled out of their scheduled pre-season game against Glasgow on Friday amid mounting concern over the club’s financial position on the eve of the new Premiership season.

The Warriors had been due to travel to Inverness for the match, with a sponsor having offered to cover their costs, but the club’s director of rugby, Steve Diamond, said “the unique and worrying situation” in which the club finds itself meant it was not feasible to fulfil the fixture.

Diamond described the decision to scrap the Glasgow game as “hugely frustrating and disappointing” but confirmed that, with players and coaches not having been paid, there was little other option available in the circumstances.

“It simply isn’t feasible to play when futures remain uncertain and a decision had to be taken today,” the 54-year-old said via Twitter. “It is unethical for professional players to play a full on game with the risk of injury and the real possibility of no employment to follow.”

Diamond added that his squad were “bitterly disappointed to be put in this position” having worked hard in recent weeks to be fully up to speed for the start of the Premiership season next week. Worcester are scheduled to kick off at London Irish on Saturday week but Saracens, who previously had a bye weekend, may yet be required to step into the breach.

As things stand, Diamond is still due to attend the Premiership launch at Twickenham on Thursday when officials will be under increasing pressure to clarify the situation. Despite talk of a possible late reprieve, Worcester’s players and coaches were told on Tuesday that their wages were unlikely to be paid this month. If that remains the case they can claim a breach of contract which the club has 14 days to