Worcester have to maintain standards - Everard

Defending champions Worcester Warriors have set their standards over the first two games of the new season and must now challenge themselves to maintain them says head coach Matt Everard.

After capping their return to professional rugby union last term with their fairytale win over Bedford in the play-off final, Warriors have been in impressive shape in the first two rounds of 2026-27.

In an immediate rematch on the opening weekend, Bedford were seen off 40-5 at Sixways before last weekend's 12-try thrashing of newly promoted Rotherham 78-12.

With a first away trip up next at Richmond on Saturday, Everard says his squad must keep the bar high.

"I think the players have been brilliant," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"We were really, really pleased with the intensity of our physicality particularly [against Rotherham]. I think it was 7-7 after the first quarter but we felt we were doing a lot right and we were operating in an intensity that we wanted to try to keep throughout the whole game and we managed to do that.

"That was our whole 23-man effort and then second quarter and fourth quarter we managed to put that physical intensity to fruition with the scoreboard."

With half of Warriors' 12 tries coming in the final 20 minutes, Everard said the effort of the replacements in driving that intensity was key - and will continue to be.

"You pick a 23 for 80 minutes, you don't pick a 15 for 60 and I think that whole 23-man effort has been super," Everard said.

"It's massive. The international scene has led the way - Eddie Jones did it with England and you see South Africa doing it now, you see Prem teams doing it, you look at the last couple of seasons - Bath stand out for me and the impact their bench have had for the back end of the game.

"You've got to have the eight guys that are coming on to be able to lift it again."

Everard said he would make changes this weekend at Richmond and those that come in deserve their chance to start.

"I think we've had the same eight players that have come on and finished the game for us across the last two weeks who have been absolutely superb," he added.

"So six of them get an opportunity to start this weekend. We're really fortunate, we've got quality in all positions so there's absolute confidence in the guys stepping in and what they need to do for the team.

"And then those guys that started in the last two rounds have got a reputation to uphold for the lads that have finished the game and to keep that standard and if they can take it up another step."