WORCESTER Warriors have launched new home and away strips for their Aviva Premiership return.

Head of fan engagement Beth Reader believes Warriors’ new home shirt is “a really strong design”.

The new home shirt includes navy blue hoops and maintains traditional club colours with the gold trims on the sleeves.

The away kit boasts a bright mineral blue with navy and white stripes across the chest.

Gerrit-Jan van Velze, who skippered Warriors to promotion from the Championship last season, said: “We’re really excited about the new kit. It’s a cool design and all the boys can’t wait to step out at Sixways wearing it.”

Reader said: “We’ve gone for a really strong design on the home shirt this season.

“We wanted to give the shirts an upgrade, while still keeping some of the traditional colours from previous years.

“Both shirts are a bit different from what we’ve had in the past but it represents the freshness and changes the club have gone through in this new era.”

Warriors open their Premiership campaign against Northampton Saints at Sixways on Friday, October 16 (7.45pm).

The players wear the new home kit for the first time against Barbarians at Sixways on Saturday, September 5 (3pm).

Warriors will compete tomorrow in the Singha Premiership Sevens at Newcastle’s Kingston Park.

They will come up against Sale Sharks, Leicester Tigers and Newcastle Falcons.

Worcester are bidding for a place at finals day at Twickenham Stoop on Friday.

Meanwhile, Warriors Under-18s suffered a 36-7 pre-season defeat against a strong Leinster side at Malvern College.

The Irish visitors ran in five tries to Warriors’ one from replacement Max Craven with Josh Grimes converting.

The youngsters travel to Ireland for a return clash on Wednesday as they gear up for the new campaign.

Coach Ceri Jones said: “There were some positives as individuals put their hands up, with players like loosehead Nick Rigby, scrum half Josh Nott and number eight Ted Hill standing out.”