The 44-second 'thank goodness' video appeal from Steve Diamond

Worcester boss Steve Diamond has posted a short video message to social media expressing his thanks that this Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership match versus Exeter will go ahead as scheduled. The fixture had been in doubt all week and the situation looked bleak on Thursday night after the RFU set the Warriors a deadline of 12 noon on Friday to provide the necessary safety guarantees needed for the match to be played at Sixways. 

These assurances materialised and after the RFU confirmed in a statement at 1:16pm that the game would be staged as originally planned, Worcester and Exeter respectively named their teams. Worcester boss Diamond also took to Twitter to outline his gratitude to staff at the club for agreeing to work on Sunday despite the issue of unpaid salaries.  

Standing in the middle of the pitch at a sunny Sixways with a groundsman working away in the background, Diamond filmed a 44-second video that culminated in him appealing to Worcester fans to come along and pack out the match that has a restricted 5,000 capacity for supporters.

“Afternoon everybody,” he began. “Friday afternoon the game is on against Exeter. Thank goodness. A lot of hard work from people behind the scenes under difficult circumstances but all the staff have agreed to work under the circumstances where some have not been paid fully and some haven’t been paid, but Worcester is all they care about and everybody is in that mindset. 

“Can you please come along? I know there is a limited attendance of around 5,000 but get here early get a ticket and support the boys. The boys are in good fettle. Hopefully, we can put a better performance than last week. Wishing you a good weekend in advance. See you Sunday.”

With the RFU satisfied that Worcester had met the deadline to provide assurances in relation to the receipt of a general safety certificate from the local authority and written confirmation of medical provision, Diamond named an XV showing three changes from the team heavily beaten at London Irish in round one.  

Wales out-half Owen Williams, who suffered a serious hamstring injury when attempting to kick a conversion against his old club Gloucester last October, will make his first start in eleven months. He replaces Billy Searle while try-scoring sub Curtis Langdon and Tom Dodd are respectively in at hooker and No8 for  Hame Faiva and Matt Kvesic.