WORCESTER Rugby Club will net a cool £500,000 if they can gun down the rest of National One this season.

The Sixways club have been boosted by a new two-year sponsorship deal with Worcester-based energy providers npower who will shell out the half a million if the Gold'n'Blues can blast into the Zurich Premiership.

The deal, worth £200,000 this year, will be increased if John Brain's vastly rebuilt squad can claim their place in English rugby's top flight this season.

Worcester, yesterday unveiling their new home and away strips on top of an armoured car, have pulled out all the stops financially in the close season to bring Premiership rugby to Sixways.

Chief executive Geoff Cooke said: "We have ambitions to become one of England's most successful clubs and, as a major national company with a strong Worcester base, npower will provide us with the ideal support in our quest for promotion.

"We are very excited about the impetus that the new sponsorship agreement will give to Worcester Rugby Club. We and npower are ambitious companies and this strong partnership will help both organisations to achieve their objectives."

npower will plough more money into the Sixways coffers if Wor-cester win promotion and are aiming for a long-term association.

Spokesman Kevin Peake said: "Worcester's achievements on the pitch mirror npower's ambitions and achievements in business."

Meanwhile, Brain has been delighted with Winston Stanley after the Canadian's first taste of Worcester. The 27-year-old spent his first three days in training after returning from holiday.

"Winston is a very dangerous player," said Brain. "He is a strong runner, a good finisher and a good footballer with great experience. He played an integral part in Leicester's success and we are delighted to have him."