WORCESTER Rugby Club have finally been recognised as an elite club after being awarded an England Rugby Regional Academy licence by the RFU.

The Sixways club will become the first outside of the Zurich Premiership to be granted one of the prestigious academies, cementing their place in rugby's plans for the future.

It means Worcester will oversee the development of potential stars of the future and, in conjunction with Birmingham University, will be guaranteed the pick of West Midlands talent.

Initially, the academy will develop 25 of the most talented young players in the region and will be funded through the National Lottery World Class plan and Club England.

Running in conjunction with the existing Worcester Rugby Academy, the aim of the new structure will be to bring forward talented young players through to Premiership and ultimately national level.

"This is a major coup for Worcester and one of our aims has always been to become a breeding ground for the best young talent," said chairman Cecil Duckworth.

"The funding and support will allow us to work with the best young players from the West Midlands and we are excited about es-tablishing links with Birmingham University."

Worcester become the 11th club to be granted academy status and join the illustrious ranks of Newcastle Falcons, Sale Sharks, Leeds Tykes, Leicester Tigers, Northampton Saints, Saracens, London Wasps, NEC Harlequins, London Irish and Bristol Shoguns.

The RFU and Worcester will appoint an academy manager and assistant manager in the New Year. The Rugby Academy Licence will begin on January 1, 2002 and run for three years. Present academy director Carl Douglas leaves his post for Gloucester next month.

"We are delighted to award the academy to Worcester and Birmingham University," said David Shaw, RFU Director of Academies.

"The awarding of the academy is thoroughly deserved and the facilities they have to offer in the West Midlands are excellent, we look forward to working closely with them in the future," he said.