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Worcester are an English Rugby Union team who play in the Guinness Premiership . They are also known as '''Worcester Warriors'''. They play at Sixways stadium (capacity 8,300 - this will increase for the 2005 season to 11,000). They wear blue and gold. HISTORY Foundation They were founded in 1871 by the Reverend Francis John Ede with the first recorded game being played against the Artillery on November 8th 1871. Since the creation of leagues they have spent most of their time in regional leagues. Support Due to the support from their backer Cecil Duckworth , Worcester were able to build a strong team and promotion after promotion followed. Promotion to the Premiership They were promoted to the Zurich (now Guinness) Premiership after winning National Division One in 2003 / 4 with a perfect record of 26 wins from 26 games, something that had never before been achieved. They were odds on favourites to go straight back down but defied the odds to stay in the Premiership for another season, finishing ninth in the league, after wins against teams including NEC Harlequins , Leeds Tykes , a historic victory against Premiership Champions London Wasps and Northampton Saints in a 'winner takes all' end of season finale, which they won 21-19. In the 2004 / 2005 season, despite Premiership survival being their ultimate aim, they reached the final of the European Shield at Oxford's Kassam Stadium , after beating Leeds Tykes in the semi - final. They eventually lost out to the French side Auch. They also managed to achieve a play - off match for the Heineken Cup against Saracens , but their long fight for Premiership survival and an injury-ravaged squad meant that they lost. Their achievements for that season meant that they had achieved much more than they had orginally hoped for, as well as earning the respect of the other Premiership sides in the process. In the 2005 / 2006 season, they have reached the quarter - finals of the European Challenge Cup after finishing top of their pool with five wins out of a possible six, above Connaught , Montpellier Herault and Amatori Catania, and face an away match against Northampton Saints in April. The European Challenge Cup is a much more important competition to Worcester this season as it offers them a route into the Heineken Cup, which is the next stage in the club's development. In the 2005-06 Guinness Premiership , they lie in 6th position (as of 12 March, 2006), a huge achievement considering that this is still only their second season in rugby's top flight. They have again re - written the history books, by chalking up a very special 15-11 victory against the Leicester Tigers , along with victories against Saracens, London Irish, Northampton Saints, Leeds Tykes, Bristol Rugby and a first day of the season draw against Gloucester Rugby . Coaching staff Anthony Eddy is their new Head Coach, who joined the club from the Queensland Reds. This is his first Head Coach role, and is working alongside the highly experienced John Brain, as Director of Rugby, who used to coach at Gloucester Rugby. John Brain is well known for the creation of formidable forward packs, something that Worcester is well respected for, with their pack including players such as Welsh International prop Chris Horsman, English International flanker Pat Sanderson, along with outstanding lock Craig Gillies, who many believe should be playing for England. INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS
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