THE new development planned for Worcester's Sixways rugby stadium is great news for the city's sporting status.

Added to Worcester City's proposals for a new stadium and the county cricket club's plans for redevelopment of its New Road ground, the Sixways expansion will help to put this area firmly on the sporting map. Worcester Warriors' plans, revealed first on our website yesterday afternoon, will see capacity at Sixways increase to 12,000 with a host of new hospitality and business facilities added to the stadium.

The £8 million development will help to put Worcester at the forefront of European rugby off the pitch. The challenge now is for Mike Ruddock and the players to match the off-field ambitions of chairman Cecil Duckworth on the pitch.

The improvement shown by the team in recent weeks is encouraging but it is absolutely vital that the Warriors remain in the Guinness Premiership. We have every confidence that they will - and what a springboard for future success that will provide.

A fantastic stadium, international legends like Rico Gear and Chris Latham on the pitch, winners like Messrs Duckworth and Ruddock off it - the future looks fantastic.

We think survival this season and the plans coming to fruition would see Worcester established as a true rugby city, not just in Britain but also in Europe.

These are exciting times for everyone involved in sport in the Faithful City.