The Diamond 'mess' reaction to Worcester quartet joining Bath

Worcester boss Steve Diamond has tweeted his reaction to four Warriors players joining Bath on loan this week. With the Sixways club currently suspended by the RFU and the latest payroll unpaid, the first move in what is expected to become a squad player exodus was confirmed on Monday evening when Gallagher Premiership bottom club Bath announced they had secured the services of four Worcester players - including two England internationals.

Ollie Lawrence, Ted Hill, Fergus Lee-Warner and Valeriy Morozov were all unveiled as Bath players, Johann van Grann’s club tweeting: “With a high number of injuries to ball carriers and players in key positions, the quartet have joined the Blue, Black and White as short term injury dispensation cover.”

The 23-year-old Lawrence, last capped by England in the July 2021 Twickenham win over the USA, soon added: “Not quite how I saw this season going, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue playing with Bath.

“I’m hoping it won’t be my last time in a Worcester jersey, but for now I just want to say thank you to everyone at the club and the fans!”

With the called-off Worcester matches against Gloucester and Harlequins now officially cancelled and the club facing a winding-up HMRC hearing this Wednesday at the High Court, it is no surprise that players at the Warriors are now exploring other avenues to play as there is no guarantee that the next scheduled match, the October 22 trip to take on Bristol at Ashton Gate, will go ahead as the suggested takeover has failed to happen.

The quartet have exited with the blessing of Diamond, the Worcester director of rugby. “The first four players, Ted, Oli, Val and Ferg, go to Bath with our best wishes,” he commented on social media. “Four tough lads. Thank you, Bath for helping. Players are free-spirited. They need to play. I will deal with the mess. Hopefully, the boys will come home. Night.”