Worcester Warriors players free to leave club after WRFC Players Ltd liquidation confirmed at High Court

WRFC Players Ltd - the company which holds the contracts of Worcester Warriors' players and some staff - has been liquidated in the High Court, meaning players can now depart the club.

The winding-up petition heard on Wednesday concerned an unpaid tax bill of approximately £6m, and the result sees the contracts of Worcester's players immediately terminated.

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The club now also expect to have their suspension from the rest of the Gallagher Premiership season and enforced relegation to the Championship confirmed by the RFU.

Worcester also fear that Premiership Rugby (PRL) may next buy the Warriors' P-share - at £9.8m - as one of England's elite 13 clubs, which would cut access to central funding.

Four Worcester players have already departed on loan in Ted Hill, Ollie Lawrence, Fergus Lee-Warner and Valeriy Morozov, all to Bath, with others now sure to follow them out of the door having become unemployed, joined by members of staff.

Administrators Begbies Traynor are seeking a buyer for WRFC Trading Ltd and are talking to two consortiums, but any successful takeover will bring with it the urgent task of rebuilding the squad.

Worcester owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham have become deeply unpopular figures among players, staff and fans for allowing the club to sink into such a precarious position.

The duo have also been mocked for appearing to blame the squad and supporters for the crisis that has engulfed Sixways in an extraordinary statement issued on Friday.

(c) Sky Sports 2022: Worcester Warriors players free to leave club after WRFC Players Ltd liquidation confirmed at High Court