Sixways was the focus of attention again yesterday as BBC's Rugby Special came to Worcester.

Chairman Cecil Duckworth and coaches John Brain and Andy Keast were the guests of stand-in presenter Austin Healey, the Leicester scrum-half.

The programme provided a real boost for Worcester as they continued to count down to next season's Premiership baptism.

"It was a very positive day for Worcester Rugby Club," said director of rugby John Brain. "I think what it showed is that Sixways is the perfect venue for such an event and once again illustrated just how good our facilities are."

The comparison between Rotherham and Worcester was once again made after the South Yorkshire club's appalling season in the top flight, but Brain believes there is little similarity between the two.

"To be perfectly honest, we are very different to Rotherham," he said.

"We have a different foundation, different coa-ches and players. I'm very, very confident that we will be competitive in the Premiership next season.

"We are under no illusions that it's going to be difficult but we have a foundation of players that won 26 games from 26 last season and we are already recruiting players that will add to that."

Meanwhile, Brain has rejected suggestions that Worcester will be travelling to Gloucester's Kingsholm ground in the first game of next season.

Rumours of a tough opening day for the National One champions had been sparked but, after viewing a draft fixture list, the former Gloucester man is insisting that there will be no first-day return to Kingsholm.

"That's all I can confirm about the fixture list," he said. "We won't be at Gloucester on the opening day."