THE future of Stourbridge Rugby Club appears to be uncertain after plans were announced to move to Worcester.

The new owners at Sixways Stadium aim to relocate Stourbridge RFC from Stourton Park to Sixways Stadium under the new name of 'Sixways Rugby', to compete in the National League 2 West.

However Stourbridge say talks are in the embryonic stage and dismissed talk of a total move to Worcester as 'Chineese whispers'.

SRFC chairman Miles Edge said: "We would be foolhardy not to pursue a possibility that would benefit the club over the coming years but nothing is set in stone.

"It will take time and nothing is going to happen overnight, we will protect Stourbridge Rugby Club."

Mr Edge would not rule out Stourbridge's amateur side, Stourbridge Lions, becoming the primary team playing at Stourton Park.

Atlas Worcester Warriors Rugby Club Limited have confirmed they have pulled out the application process for Worcester to compete in the Championship next season, with director Jim O'Toole stating they "cannot agree to RFU conditions and commercial restrictions".

As a result, they, Atlas, also led by former London Irish player James Sandford, have confirmed they will be rebranding Worcester Warriors into 'Sixways Rugby'

READ MORE: Stourbridge Rugby Club: 10 facts as Atlas plan announced

This proposal will be discussed by Stourbridge members at a meeting which will take place on Friday evening, February 10. 

Former Worcester Warriors players, both older and younger, will be recruited to help take the team through the leagues.

"We will invest in their semi-professional first team and they will play at Sixways," said O'Toole.

"We will invest significantly to get them through the leagues. The plan will be to reach the Championship by 2026.

READ MORE: Worcester Warriors: Stourbridge chief 'reached out' to Atlas

"We hope to be able to call upon former players to come in and help us move through the divisions. Some of the older guys who can still mix it in that league, as well as the players who were breaking through from the academy."

Stourbridge News: Jim O'Toole was chief executive at Worcester Warriors back in 2017Jim O'Toole was chief executive at Worcester Warriors back in 2017 (Image: Newsquest)

O'Toole also revealed the plans for the Sixways site, which will include a hotel, a conference and events facility and a medical centre.

O'Toole appreciated this would be news that would undoubtedly cause plenty of emotion.

"We know this will be an emotional crossroads for so many," he added.

"But this is the start of a new journey and we believe the time to begin a new era starts here.

"In the coming weeks we will be speaking to everybody and we will again explain the plans for the future. We hope to keep fans up to date at all times, we will be transparent. 

"We will be producing a range of initiatives to bring back fans to Sixways but also to invite new supporters along with us on this journey."

In a statement posted on the SRFC website earlier today, Stourbridge president, Richard Baron says Atlas aims to support the club commercially but the club will remain owned by members and there will be "rugby for many generations to come at Stourton Park".

He said: "Atlas Group is proposing a long-term investment into our playing infrastructure to enable our teams to play competitively at all levels, to grow our club to becoming a Championship Level Club (and beyond) to provide a pathway to senior competitive rugby for all, to provide additional player support for players to cascade at all levels in the men’s and women’s game.

"We believe that this investment ensures the longevity of rugby at Stourton Park for generations to come."