Cornish Pirates
Encyclopedia
The Cornish Pirates are an English professional rugby union
team who play in the Championship
, the second level of the English rugby union pyramid, and are the premier Cornish rugby
club. Formerly known as Penzance & Newlyn Pirates, the Cornish Pirates play their home games and train at their traditional home at Mennaye Field
in Penzance
.
At the end of the 2004/05 season the Pirates finished in 4th position in National Division 1 which at the time was their highest league position since owner Dicky Evans became President and just 3 places below Premiership rugby status. To fulfill the club's aspirations of gaining promotion into the Premiership it is necessary to fulfill a number of criteria including becoming a Limited Company and playing home matches in a new capacity stadium.
, near Truro
, and then to Camborne
Recreation Ground. In examining the options it was viewed as imperative to increase the support base which led to a difficult decision for Dicky Evans and the supporters of the Pirates namely, should the team relocate to another site to play their home matches or not? The questions, concerns and sentiments arising from the proposals were thoroughly debated in the clubhouse and elsewhere. However, on 27 May 2005 at an emergency meeting held in a packed St Johns Hall the innovative plans were passed. They included:
Following the vote Richard Evans told members: "ten years ago I asked you to support me in taking this club into the professional era. At that time there were those were totally against this move, there are people that are against this latest move. However, it is my belief that we must try this venture". He expressed his personal happiness at the support expressed for the move and regarded it as a step towards a Premiership rugby club in Cornwall.
Cornwall Council is currently developing a business plan for a proposed Stadium for Cornwall
, which could host both the Pirates and Truro City Football Club
.
's recreation ground. Camborne's ground is seen as many to be the best rugby ground in Cornwall
boasting a superb grandstand.
The Pirates say they intend to make match days an "event" as they did last year at Kenwyn and as the Camborne Recreation Ground accommodates over 9,000 people with a stand capacity of 780, and a new Family Stand of allowing for more than 1,000. There is also good banked standing, a 80 feet (24.4 m) marquee bar complete with Cadgwith Singers and ample parking at or near the ground.
Cornish Pirates continue to work towards developing a stadium that will be required to ensure Premiership status. They are reportedly working with Cornwall County Council, and other partners, and at various sites near Truro, Camborne, or points in between. The Camborne Rec is a popular and historic Cornish rugby venue, having hosted many top class games over the years against teams including the "All Blacks
" and the "Wallabies
".
On 15 April 2007, the Cornish Pirates won the EDF Energy National Trophy at Twickenham for the first time in the club's history, against Exeter Chiefs
. The score was 19–16.
(to Leeds), these losses were offset in some degree by the signing of Canadian
international scrum half Ed Fairhurst
, former England U21 centre Simon Whatling
from Worcester and seasoned professional Rob Elloway
from Gloucester
. At first the results were not good but after the world cup the team began to pick up and were joined by one of the stars of the tournament Tongan
full back; Vunga Lilo
. Unfortunately the side couldn’t live with the newly relegated Northampton Saints
and were unlucky to draw them in the 1st round of the cup, going down 15–3 at home.
British and Irish Cup
Winners: 2009/10
(from
Jersey
) Tom Kessell (from Plymouth Albion
) Ben Maidment (from Moseley
) Matt Smith
(from
UWIC Ryan Westren (from Launceston
) Andrew Suniula
(from
Chicago Griffins
) Darren Daniel
(from Carmarthen Quins) Ceiron Thomas
(from Leeds Carnegie)
Worcester Warriors) Ben Gulliver
(to Worcester Warriors) Tyrone Holmes (released) Matt Hopper (to Harlequins
) Nick Jackson (released) Tom Luke (to Doncaster Knights
) Sui Liaga (released) Steve Winn
(released)
James Hawken Brian 'Stack' Stevens
Rob Thirlby
Trent Andrews Viliami Ma'asi Adam Mills Will James
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team who play in the Championship
RFU Championship
The RFU Championship replaced National Division One as the second tier in the English rugby union system in September 2009. Unlike National Division One, which is semi-professional, the RFU Championship is a fully professional league.-History:...
, the second level of the English rugby union pyramid, and are the premier Cornish rugby
Cornish rugby
Rugby union in Cornwall is one of the Duchy's most popular sports.-CRFU:The Cornwall Rugby Football Union was formed in 1883. It is a union of 39 rugby union clubs which includes every rugby union club in Cornwall, the open age Cornwall representative side and representative teams at various age...
club. Formerly known as Penzance & Newlyn Pirates, the Cornish Pirates play their home games and train at their traditional home at Mennaye Field
Mennaye Field
Mennaye Field is a sports stadium located in Penzance, Cornwall. The ground was provided by the Borough of Penzance for the Penzance and Newlyn RFC formed on Tuesday, 12th December, 1944 with the amalgamation of Penzance RFC and Newlyn RFC. The current tennants are the Cornish Pirates rugby union...
in Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
.
Plans ca. 2004/05
There has been recent talk of plans to build a permanent 15,000 seat stadium which will be fit to host Premiership rugby, but at present the club is considering its options as the minimum entry requirements to the Premiership are constantly changing.At the end of the 2004/05 season the Pirates finished in 4th position in National Division 1 which at the time was their highest league position since owner Dicky Evans became President and just 3 places below Premiership rugby status. To fulfill the club's aspirations of gaining promotion into the Premiership it is necessary to fulfill a number of criteria including becoming a Limited Company and playing home matches in a new capacity stadium.
The decision to relocate
In 2005 the Pirates moved away from their home at The Mennaye in Penzance, first to Kenwyn Rugby GroundKenwyn Rugby Ground
The Kenwyn Ground was a temporary rugby ground, in Cornwall, UK, built in an attempt to increase the fan base of the newly named Cornish Pirates. The move was controversial and caused resentment from some members and followers of Penzance and Newlyn RFC, as a “proud local name” was lost to the...
, near Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
, and then to Camborne
Camborne
Camborne is a town and civil parish in west Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is at the western edge of a conurbation comprising Camborne, Pool and Redruth....
Recreation Ground. In examining the options it was viewed as imperative to increase the support base which led to a difficult decision for Dicky Evans and the supporters of the Pirates namely, should the team relocate to another site to play their home matches or not? The questions, concerns and sentiments arising from the proposals were thoroughly debated in the clubhouse and elsewhere. However, on 27 May 2005 at an emergency meeting held in a packed St Johns Hall the innovative plans were passed. They included:
- Relocating to a new temporary site at Kenwyn, TruroTruroTruro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
for the 2005/6 season. - Re-branding including changing the club's name to the Cornish Pirates.
- Upgrading all the facilities at the Mennaye Field which will continue to act as the permanent training base for the Cornish Pirates.
- The Mennaye to continue to act as the playing home for the Pirates mini and junior sections and Mounts Bay.
Following the vote Richard Evans told members: "ten years ago I asked you to support me in taking this club into the professional era. At that time there were those were totally against this move, there are people that are against this latest move. However, it is my belief that we must try this venture". He expressed his personal happiness at the support expressed for the move and regarded it as a step towards a Premiership rugby club in Cornwall.
Cornwall Council is currently developing a business plan for a proposed Stadium for Cornwall
Stadium for Cornwall
The Stadium for Cornwall is a proposed multi-purpose stadium in Threemilestone, Cornwall. There are presently no major sports stadia in Cornwall, with the largest capacity ground being the Recreation Ground in Camborne...
, which could host both the Pirates and Truro City Football Club
Truro City F.C.
Truro City F.C. are an English professional football club based in Truro, Cornwall. They currently play in the Conference South following five promotions in six seasons. They were founding members of the South Western League in 1951 and won the title five times in their history...
.
2006/7 season
Following a highly successful 2005/6 season, (when crowds were increased and the Pirates finished 3rd in Division 1), it was decided to relocate again and over the next two seasons the Cornish Pirates will play their home rugby matches at Camborne RFCCamborne RFC
Camborne RFC were established in 1878, and are one of the most famous rugby union clubs in Cornwall. They currently play in the Western Counties West division and their club colours are Cherry and White...
's recreation ground. Camborne's ground is seen as many to be the best rugby ground in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
boasting a superb grandstand.
Cornish Pirates continue to work towards developing a stadium that will be required to ensure Premiership status. They are reportedly working with Cornwall County Council, and other partners, and at various sites near Truro, Camborne, or points in between. The Camborne Rec is a popular and historic Cornish rugby venue, having hosted many top class games over the years against teams including the "All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
" and the "Wallabies
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
".
On 15 April 2007, the Cornish Pirates won the EDF Energy National Trophy at Twickenham for the first time in the club's history, against Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Rugby Club are a rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon.The Exeter club was formed around 1871 and played its first match in 1873. The first team has been rebranded as the Exeter Chiefs and play in a strip of Black , White ....
. The score was 19–16.
2007/8 season
After the success of the 2006/7 cup win, the hope was that the club’s ambition could finally be realised, this hope was hampered by the loss of Viliami Ma'asi and Alberto Di BernardoAlberto Di Bernardo
Alberto Di Bernardo is an Italian/Argentine rugby union player, currently playing in Celtic League, for Benetton Rugby Treviso. His usual position is at fly-half and he has played for Italy A....
(to Leeds), these losses were offset in some degree by the signing of Canadian
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
international scrum half Ed Fairhurst
Ed Fairhurst
Edward Fairhurst is a Canadian international rugby union player. He is currently playing with the UBC Old Boys Ravens in the BC Premier League and the BC Bears in the Canadian Rugby Championship....
, former England U21 centre Simon Whatling
Simon Whatling
Simon Whatling is an English rugby union player, who plays for London Welsh in the Guinness Championship. Whatling had previously played for Worcester Warriors in the Guinness Premiership and the Cornish Pirates. He plays as a fly half or centre.-Notes:...
from Worcester and seasoned professional Rob Elloway
Rob Elloway
Rob Elloway is a German international rugby union player, playing for the Cornish Pirates in the RFU Championship and the German national rugby union team.-Biography:He plays rugby since 1990...
from Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
. At first the results were not good but after the world cup the team began to pick up and were joined by one of the stars of the tournament Tongan
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
full back; Vunga Lilo
Vunga Lilo
Vungakoto "Vunga" Lilo is a rugby union footballer who plays for Bordeaux and previously Bristol. He plays as a fullback.-External links:*...
. Unfortunately the side couldn’t live with the newly relegated Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
and were unlucky to draw them in the 1st round of the cup, going down 15–3 at home.
Club honours
EDF Energy National Trophy Winners: 2006/07British and Irish Cup
2009-10 British and Irish Cup
The British and Irish Cup is a semi-professional northern hemisphere rugby union competition. A total of 24 teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales competed in the inaugural competition in season 2009-10...
Winners: 2009/10
Current squad
Players In
David DohertyDavid Doherty
David Doherty is a rugby union player for Cornish Pirates in the RFU Championship. Doherty plays at fullback or on the wing and he can also operate in the centre's....
(from
JerseyJersey R.F.C.
Jersey Rugby Football Club are a Jersey rugby club in the National League 1 and play at St. Peter. Last season JRFC won their play-off at Twickenham and also beat their greatest rivals Guernsey to win the Siam Cup. Jersey gained promotion by beating Loughborough Students and are now in National...
) Tom Kessell (from
Plymouth AlbionPlymouth Albion R.F.C.
Plymouth Albion Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club who play in Plymouth, England. The club was founded around 1915 from a merger between Plymouth RFC and Devonport Albion RFC...
) Ben Maidment (from
MoseleyMoseley Rugby Football Club
Moseley Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club, based at Billesley Common in Birmingham, that competes in the RFU Championship. The club was historically the premier rugby club in Birmingham, reaching the final of the John Player Cup three times in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
) Matt Smith
Matt Smith (rugby player)
Matt Smith is a rugby union footballer who plays utility back for Leicester Tigers and England U-21.-Career:...
(from
UWIC Ryan Westren (from LauncestonLaunceston RUFC
Launceston Rugby Club are a Cornish rugby club who play in National League 2 South of the English rugby union leagues.-History:The club was founded in 1948 after an inaugural meeting chaired by the then Headmaster of Launceston College, Mr Spencer Toy with Gordon Reeve, Eric Smith and Arthur...
) Andrew Suniula
Andrew Suniula
Andrew Suniula is an American Samoan rugby union player for the Cornish Pirates in the RFU Championship. He previously played for the Chicago Griffins and rugby league football for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. His position is at wing/centre/second row. He has...
(from
Chicago GriffinsChicago Griffins
The Chicago Griffins RFC rugby union team was founded in 1973. The team competes in the RSL and play their home games at Schiller Woods in Schiller Park, Illinois, USA.- 2010 Team :*1.Jojo Bucci*2.Keith Bowen*3.Tim Paulsen*4.Stephen Wolff...
) Darren Daniel
Darren Daniel
Darren Daniel is a Welsh rugby union footballer.Daniel began his career with Llanelli RFC, working his way up through the junior and youth teams, before finally reaching the senior squad. By the time he was 18, Daniel was a regular in the Llanelli first team, and it wasn't long before he was...
(from
Carmarthen Quins) Ceiron ThomasCeiron Thomas
Ceiron Thomas is a Welsh rugby union footballer, currently playing for the English side Leeds Carnegie. His regular position is at fly-half, though he is often played at fullback....
(from
Leeds Carnegie)Players Out
James Currie (to Worcester Warriors) Ben GulliverBen Gulliver
Ben Gulliver is a Rugby Union player for the Worcester Warriors, having moved from the Cornish Pirates in the Summer of 2011. His preferred position is Lock...
(to
Worcester Warriors) Tyrone Holmes (released) Matt Hopper (to HarlequinsHarlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
) Nick Jackson (released) Tom Luke (to
Doncaster KnightsDoncaster R.F.C.
Doncaster Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club representing the town of Doncaster. The first XV are known as the Doncaster Knights, and play in the RFU Championship...
) Sui Liaga (released) Steve Winn
Steve Winn
For persons of a similar name see Steve WynnSteve Winn is a Welsh rugby union player. A centre, he has represented Wales A and currently plays his club rugby for the Cornish Pirates having joined from the Welsh regional team Newport Gwent Dragons where he made 29 appearances.Winn previously played...
(released)
Notable former players
Joe BearmanJoe Bearman
Joe Bearman is an English rugby union player. A flanker, he currently plays his club rugby for the Ospreys having previously played for the Newport Gwent Dragons and the Cornish Pirates....
James Hawken Brian 'Stack' Stevens
Brian 'Stack' Stevens
Claude Brian 'Stack' Stevens is a former English rugby union player who played prop for Penzance and Newlyn, Harlequins and represented England 25 times at international level between 1970 to 1975. He also toured with the British and Irish Lions to Australia and New Zealand in 1971.-References:...
Rob Thirlby
Rob Thirlby
Rob Graham Thirlby born in Penzance, Cornwall is a Cornish rugby union footballer who plays on the wing or full back for Yatton whilst also acting as the video analyst for Gloucester Rugby...
Trent Andrews Viliami Ma'asi Adam Mills Will James
Will James (rugby player)
Will James is a Wales international rugby union player. He currently plays for Gloucester Rugby, and has also played for Pontypridd RFC and Cornish Pirates. His usual position is second-row forward....