Warriors support Cornell du Preez call-up

Worcester Warriors can confirm that the club will release Cornell du Preez for international duty if he is called up for next weekend’s re-arranged Guinness Six Nations match against France in Paris.

Warriors have said they will support the Scottish RU in releasing players provided it is on the same financial terms as English players are released to the RFU.

Premiership Rugby clubs have agreed financial compensation for player release for the Scottish players, after their 6N game vs France falls outside international window.

— Robert Rees (@Rreesrugby) March 19, 2021

A Premiership Rugby spokesperson said: "We do understand that we are in unprecedented times as sport faces its biggest crisis from the Covid-19 pandemic. In the spirit of collaboration, we continue to negotiate around the release of players, with appropriate compensation for the disruption to the clubs and the competition still to be agreed.

"We have a consistent, and long-held policy only to release non-England players for matches that fall under World Rugby’s Regulation 9, which governs player release for international rugby...

"We have important Premiership games scheduled for next weekend, and the withdrawal of players at short notice creates many issues for us, including commitments to our partners, broadcasters and supporters. We have already accommodated a kick-off change and want to find a way forward on the player issue..."

"The COVID-19 pandemic has required flexibility and adaptability in all areas of life and we would always support our players in achieving their ambitions of playing at the highest level possible," said Warriors in a statement.

Du Preez's made his international comeback as a replacement in Scotland's 19-12 defeat by Ireland in Dublin in their Six Nations opener in Dublin in February 2020, adding to his collection of caps almost two years after he won his sixth.

He turned out again for Scotland against Wales during the Autumn Nations Cup in October 2020 and, after injuries suffered in the Scottish back-row stocks in the 2021 Six Nations, was again summoned by Gregor Townsend to fill in.