Warwood scored four tries in 27 appearances for Tigers after making his debut against Llanelli in 1988 and is now coach of the Coventry-based team who have qualified for the Prima Tiger Cup quarter-finals.
“I don’t get back very often,” Warwood said. “I still keep in touch through the Droglites and it will be nice to get back and hopefully see a few old friends.”
Old Coventrians finished top of their pool at the regional festival, which was held at Lutterworth RFC on Sunday. They beat teams from Old Leamingtonians, Rugby Lions and Birmingham and Solihull to qualify for the quarter-finals, which will be held at Welford Road before Tigers play Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership on Saturday, November 27.
Warwood said: “They are ecstatic that they are getting the chance to play at Welford Road. It’s a big thing for a nine-year-old to play there. We have taken some over before to watch so to get to actually run out on the hallowed turf will be fantastic for them.”
Old Coventrians will be joined at Welford Road by teams from Leamington, Oadby Wyggestonians and Oakham rugby clubs.
Leamington finished top of a group including Kenilworth, Loughborough and Melton Mowbray and their head coach Dave Mortimer said: “It was a truly fantastic performance from all 13 boys. All of the coaches, parents and, in particular, the boys should be very proud of a superb result.”
Oakham did not concede a try as they beat Ashby, Hinckley, Leicester Forest and Market Harborough to qualify.
Head coach James Cooper said: “It is every young boy’s dream to run out at Welford Road. Leicester Tigers is everything.”
Now in its 17th season, the Prima Tiger Cup is supported by Loughborough-based Prima Solutions and is for under-10s teams across the country.
Hosted by Leicester Tigers, the two-time winners of Europe’s Heineken Cup, it sees teams qualify from four regional festivals to play at Welford Road.
Newark qualified from the festival held at Mellish RFC at the end of October and the rest of the quarter-final line-up will be decided this Sunday at festivals at Stoke RFC and Swaffham RFC.
