Warriors say farewell to legends
Fri, 09 May 2008 15:26
Worcester Warrior legends Tony Windo, Shane Drahm, Drew Hickey and Thinus Delport are all set to wave goodbye to Sixways Stadium after being named in the squad to face Newcastle Falcons in a Guinness Premiership clash on Saturday.
Windo, who will retire at the end of this season to take up a coaching role at the club, is named in the front row alongside Wales international Chris Horsman who is handed a first start since October.
Drahm and Delport are named in the starting line-up while Hickey is named among the replacements for a last game on home soil before they depart for Japan this summer.
Fijian flank Netani Talei will wear the No.6 jersey but injured centre Sam Tuitupou misses out with Dale Rasmussen returning to inside centre.
Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock has urged his Warriors to finish the season with a bang knowing a victory could take his side above the Falcons in the league table.
"It has been a long and tough season for us. People tell me it is a battle in this league to get through the season and they have been proven right," he said.
"But we've steadily improved and the second half of the campaign has been rewarding. Now we want to finish off in style for our own fans and give them a real show before the Final.
"Our recent victory over Newcastle in the European Challenge Cup will give us confidence. But we watched the Falcons against Leicester Tigers recently and they played a different style," added Ruddock.
Ruddock is also keen for his departing quartet of Windo, Delport, Drahm and Hickey to finish in style adding: "They have been great servants for the club. I hope they get a huge ovation from the crowd and we give them a great send-off."
"We are looking for replacements but the Falcons game is all about them and I wish them well in their final game on home soil," he concluded.
Worcester: 15 Thinus Delport, 14 Marcel
Garvey, 13 Rico Gear, 12 Dale Rasmussen, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Shane Drahm, 9 Matt Powell, 8 Kai Horstmann, 7 Pat Sanderson (captain), 6 Netani Talei, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 3 Chris Horsman, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Tony Windo.
Replacements: 16 Tevita Taumoepeau, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Will Bowley, 19 Drew Hickey, 20 Joe Carlisle, 21 Jonny Arr, 22 Chris Pennell.
Date: Saturday, May 10
Venue: Sixways Stadium, Worcester
Kick-off: 15.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: Dean Richards
Touch judges: Roger Baileff, Andrew Pearce
Television match official: Matt Peters
With thanks to guinnesspremiership.com
