Warriors go green for brighter future
WORCESTER have launched their time for change campaign aimed at transforming how they operate off the field and establish themselves as a force in the Premiership after 14 seasons when they have wallowed in its nether reaches.
The Warriors last week became the first professional rugby club to join the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework, joining major football sides such as Liverpool, Arsenal and Paris St Germain, and in doing so became part of the Paris Agreement, the legally binding commitment to tackle climate change.
“We need to take climate change very seriously and as individuals and a club we do,” said Worcester’s managing director, Peter Kelly. “As a business and a sports club, we have a platform that enables us to take responsibility and action.
“We have put the time for change hashtag across our whole business. We are delighted to be the first rugby club to sign up to the framework. It is not about standing on a green high ground, but educating the local community, especially children, the generation that will be hit hardest unless something is done.”
Worcester have installed LED floodlights as well as LED lights in the stadium, all motion censored to save power. All the cups they use are recyclable, food containers will no longer be plastic trays and they chose their kit supplier, O’Neills, because it was based in the UK and meant the gear would not have to be flown in from abroad.
“We had a tendering process for our restyle partner and have teamed up with our local council,” said Kelly. “It means that our waste will either be recycled or used for power. Nothing will go to landfill. All our contracts are now done online so there are no paper documents, the taps at the stadium turn on and off automatically so there is no waste of water, leaking pipes are being replaced and we recycle old IT equipment instead of chucking it as we used to.”
The next move will be to switch to electric vehicles, something that is not yet an option because of cost and concerns over recharging. “We looked at electric vans but could not get any and the hybrids were too expensive,” said Kelly. “We are leasing until the price comes down.”
Worcester have to provide an annual report to the UN on emissions and the steps being taken to become carbon neutral. One of the club’s owners, Colin Goldring, approached the UN on social media earlier this year and they have joined Basis (British Association for Sustainable Sport) along with Gloucester and Saracens, and they have partnered with a local business, Go Greener.
“We have set a benchmark and now the aim is to educate the local community in the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” said Kelly. “It will add on to what we do with children, using sport to help them with maths, diet and mental health in terms of exercise.”
Worcester will be welcoming back supporters without a limit on capacity for the first time in 18 months when the new season kicks off and Kelly said the Warriors were determined to give them something to shout about after last season when an opening day victory over London Irish (who visit Sixways again in the first round) was followed by an unbroken run of defeats.
“We have a better squad now and people were surprised when we signed Duhan van der Merwe and Rory Sutherland, two Lions,” said Kelly. “The time for change hashtag applies to the rugby side as much as sustainability and we decided enough was enough.
“Jonathan Thomas became head coach earlier this year. He has brought in a new management team and there have been changes in strength and conditioning and on the medical side. I think we have an amazing squad now. We saw 21 players leave in the summer, which was not good planning but it did provide us with an opportunity to buy quality and bring through more academy products.”
Worcester are the only one of the Premiership 13 who have never played in the Heineken Champions Cup. Their highest league position in 14 attempts is eighth but with Sixways being transformed into an entertainment as well as a rugby venue to provide financial growth, sights are being set far higher.
“It has been frustrating beyond belief but we are seriously excited about what might happen this season,” said Kelly. “Sports clubs are virtually owned by supporters who are here for life and ours deserve more. We have been in this league long enough and we have to start performing otherwise there is no point in being here.
“It is time for change because we have not been doing justice to the great facilities and stadium that we have. We have got to become a successful rugby club and we are determined to achieve that for the supporters. There is no fun in it otherwise.”
The vast site at Sixways is being redeveloped. A hotel is planned along with a conference centre, new sports arena, a medical site and another car park. Kelly said the work would be completed in phases and that it would start sooner rather than later.
“We want to be the sports and entertainment hub of our community and attract more and more people,” he added. “When the owners and I arrived here three years ago, our aim was to break even and then become sustainable. Covid stopped that big time, but the development of the site will ensure it does happen. We are investing in the future by not relying on one thing.”