WORCESTER Rowing Club have been denied the chance to defend their trophy at the Henley Royal Regatta.

The club won an event at the world-famous regatta for the first time last year, when their coxless four triumphed in the Wyfold Cup.

But they have been forced to move to a different event in this year's regatta, which begins on the River Thames tomorrow and runs until Sunday.

Coach Peter Richardson said: "They have changed the rules this year so that in the two club events, anyone who has previously won a medal cannot enter those same events -- they have to move up a grade.

"In some ways we are disappointed we are not allowed to defend our title. I think we'll have our work cut out this year, but we're fairly confident for the first race and there is always hope."

Worcester, who also finished runners-up three years ago, will now have to race in the Visitors' Cup instead.

They have drawn a Dutch crew, DSR Proteus-Eretes, in Thurs-day's first round.

Phil Whiteley replaces Peter Crozier from last year's winning crew, with the rest of the line-up -- Chris Chilton, Chris Farr and Jeremy Richardson -- remaining unchanged.

Worcester's coxed four will compete in the Britannia Cup. The crew of Jon Page, Steven and Paul Redgewell, Dan Carroll and cox Seb Pearce, also face Dutch opposition in tomorrow's first round, GSR Aegir.

Worcester's two leading schools have also drawn overseas opponents in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup.

King's School take on their namesakes from Parramatta, Australia, in the first round, while Royal Grammar School face Redwood High School from the United States.

Hereford Rowing Club will hope to emulate Worcester's feat in the Wyfold Cup, taking on Bedford in the first round, while they face Wallingford in the Thames Challenge Cup.