Portugal Colonial - Rugby stars at troubled Worcester lose jobs after court ruling

British tax authorities are pursuing the club for unpaid tax of about £6 million ($6.8 million).

Judge Nicholas Briggs instructed that WRFC Players Ltd, a subsidiary of WRFC Trading Ltd through which players and some staff are paid, be wound up.

A winding-up petition against WRFC Trading Ltd, which remains in administration, has been suspended.

Ted Hill, Ollie Lawrence, Fergus Lee-Warner and Valery Morozov have already joined rival Premiership club Bath on loan and others will follow them out of the door, along with members of staff.

Because they had not been paid for September, all players would have been able to leave on October 14, meaning that liquidation has brought their departure forward by nine days.

"This is the darkest day for English rugby," Worcester's director of rugby Steve Diamond wrote on Twitter.

"We thought we could turn the tanker around but it's ended up like the Titanic, sadly. The ship has sunk, the captains are nowhere to be seen."

Hill tweeted: "What an unbelievably sad day for everyone in Worcester.

"A club who meant so much to everyone has gone the direction none of us wanted it to. A place where I played my rugby from 14 years of age and met so many people who mean so much to me and my family."

Worcester's matches against Gloucester and Harlequins were cancelled on Monday and while they remain suspended from all competitions, they could be restored to the Premiership if a buyer is found by the middle of this month.

No definite decision on relegation has been made by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premiership Rugby, although the chances of continuing in the top flight appear remote considering the lack of time to agree terms with new investors.

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said in a statement: "This is a very sad day for rugby in England. Our thoughts are with all of the Worcester Warriors players, staff and supporters.

"The RFU will continue to speak to the administrators, and potential buyers, during the course of the next 24 hours to understand the possibility of a buyer taking over the club in time for the men's team to participate in the Gallagher Premiership during season 2022/23."

- 'Learn lessons' -

The Rugby Players Association called for "lessons to be learned".

"The RPA is extremely saddened to hear of the liquidation of WRFC Players Limited," a statement read.

"We stand with all Worcester employees. Our immediate thoughts are with all the players and staff who have lost their jobs today due to this terrible situation.

"We will continue to support our members in all ways that we can throughout this hugely challenging and difficult time, as we have done since it became clear that the club was in financial trouble."

There are fears that other English Premiership clubs could also face a bleak future -- the collective debts of all 13 Premiership clubs are estimated at more than £500 million.

Wasps, twice European champions, have announced their intention to appoint administrators after failing to meet a May deadline to repay £35 million in bonds, which helped finance their relocation to Midlands city Coventry from London in 2014.

P.Cavaco--PC