Royals Head Coach Predicts 'Stern Test' This Season

Royals Head Coach Stuart Andrew predicts a "stern test" during the 2015/16 campaign but believes his squad “can compete with any team” as preparation for the upcoming season continues.

Last week BUCS (British University and College Sports), the governing body for University sport in the UK, released the highly anticipated fixtures for the 2015/16 season, revealing who Worcester would be playing and when.

This year’s release was eagerly awaited by Royals players and coaches as the coming season would be the team's first in the Midlands Division 1, and also the first time they’d play opponents both home and away.

Coach Andrew revealed that “expectations are high for next year, coming off the back of our first ever winning season.”

“Being placed in Tier 1 alongside NTU, Nottingham Uni, Warwick & Staffordshire is nothing more than we deserve. It’s going to be a stern test of how far we have come as a team.”

“We have begun to install and nurture a winning mentality and it’ll be down to the coaches and senior players to transmit that to the rookies we recruit.”

Worcester will face familiar foes in the forms of Nottingham Trent, Nottingham and Warwick (all of who they played last season) but the matchup against Staffordshire, the Royals opening fixture, will be completely new territory for both sides.

“The inclusion of Staffordshire intrigues me.” Said Coach Andrew.

“Their programme has gone through a lot of change in recent years and I’m looking forward to seeing how they’ve evolved.”

Pre-Season training for returning players is expected to commence as early as September as everyone involved with the club build towards the season opener at Staffordshire on November 8th.