WORCESTER Warriors have pledged to “kick on” in their bid to build a flourishing youth system after the academy boundaries were confirmed.

As exclusively revealed earlier this month by the Worcester News, Warriors have retained the much-revered Warwick School as well as large parts of the Midlands.

The new boundaries have been set out by Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby Limited as part of their eight-year agreement, which was announced today.

Wasps had threatened to scupper Worcester’s investment in the Warwickshire area when they arrived in Coventry in December 2014.

But following a “robust” defence, Warriors say they have retained central and southern Warwickshire, Greater Birmingham, including Solihull, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

Although admitting it was a “blow” to lose Coventry-based Barkers’ Butts, Warriors chief executive Jim O’Toole said he was “very pleased” with the outcome.

“The prospect of us losing Warwickshire was not something we were prepared to accept,” he said.

“We knew we had to stand up for ourselves, so we presented an argument based on logic as well as a lot of data and research.”

O’Toole said Warriors’ academy system was in “great shape” and vowed to continue to pump about £500,000 a year into those areas.

“It’s so important to us and a fundamental part of our long term vision and strategy that we will probably spend 30 per cent more than we are getting from the RFU deal to make sure we stay at the forefront,” he said.

“We had 17 boys play for England between under-16 and under-20 level last year, including three World Cup winners.

“Last year’s crop was the fruits of our labour over the last couple of years when we restructured our academy and the talent coming in behind those guys is even better.

“We can now kick on as we know where we can and can’t operate and focus on the areas where we do have the license.”

O’Toole said he was “not concerned” about losing North Warwickshire, Coventry and Rugby, which Wasps will now look after, as he admitted they created “friction” with Leicester Tigers.

However, he admitted he was disappointed to have to close their regional academy centre at Barkers Butts which Warriors launched in November 2014.

“It is a blow as we had a very successful and long-standing relationship with the management team and we regret they are no longer part of our network,” O’Toole said.

“We will still be friends and they will be welcome any time, but you have to play by the rules and they are now a Wasps club.”

A spokesman from Premiership Rugby added: “We are delighted to conclude the new academy licenses which underpin the game in England.

“We believe the new structure is a strong fit for the future prosperity for both club and country.

“These new boundaries have been unanimously agreed by our clubs and we now look forward to a new era for English rugby.”

Meanwhile, Warriors are competing at the Singha Premiership Sevens in Newcastle on Saturday.

Warriors face Leicester Tigers (3.25pm), Newcastle (4.20pm) and Sale Sharks (4.50pm) in Group D.