The selectors and coaches have announced their squad for this season’s Gill Burns Cup Division 2 campaign.

Last season Cornwall Women won the Division 3 title defeating Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire in a thrilling final at the Richmond Athletic Ground 36-17.

Twelve players from that side are in the squad for this season’s campaign.

Last season’s captain Verity Holden has retired from playing but is now part of the coaching squad. This season’s captain is yet to be named.

Cornwall RFU Chairman Dave Saunter in congratulating the selected players said. “Exciting times ahead for our Ladies XV, who have been promoted to the Gill Burns Div 2 Cup after winning the Division 3 at the first time of asking. 

“The coaches have been casting an eye over the potential squad on Friday nights at Bodmin RFC and now have selected the 30 who will carry the hopes of Cornish Ladies rugby. 

“The squad have 2 qualifying matches one at home at Launceston so it’s a short intense program with a potential final at the end of the journey.

“I wish Ronan O’Neil, Jo and new coach Verity best luck, knowing the way they work I know our ladies will be prepared to face the challenge”.

Whilst coach Jo Holden added. “Open training sessions were amazing this year, we had 30/40 women for each session, lots of new faces making selection super competitive. We are also fortunate to be able to add our Cornish Winning Captain Verity Holden to the coaching team this year. She has added a new dimension and whole lot more passion about putting Cornwall on the map. Ronan and I are more determined than ever to continue the good work from last year and keep the momentum going”. 

The Cornwall Women squad of 30 is as follows;

Amy Bunt (Ivybridge), Amy Warman (Launceston), Annie McKelvey (Penryn), Bobby Smith-Scotland (Plymstock), Bryher Freight (Truro), Caitlin Milliken (Camborne), Claire Thompson (Truro), Faith Rowe (Camborne), Georgia Hall (Penryn), Jenna Arnold (Launceston), Jo Roberts (Plymstock), Joey Sandercock (Launceston), Josie Ninnis (Penryn), Katherine Wherry (Ivybridge), Kim Upcott (Launceston), Laura Outten (Camborne), Lisa Allin (Bude), Lydia Hawkins (Falmouth), Makindi Carter (Helston), Megan Arnold (Launceston), Megan Okey (Ivybridge), Mel Ruby (Launceston), Nicola Rowland (Ivybridge), Oz Brazier (Truro), Rebecca Bennett (Truro), Rhiannon Thomas (Launceston), Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Sam Whitefield (Truro), Shannon Foster (Plymstock), Sian Westgarth (Truro).

Cornwall Women’s games this season in the Gill Burns Cup are;

Sunday 7^th May Cornwall Women v Oxfordshire Women @ Launceston RC 2 pm

Sunday 21^st May Somerset Women v Cornwall @ Taunton RFC 3 pm

Semi-final fixtures will be advised at a later date.

Entry to the game at Launceston is £5 on gate, Under 16s free.

Redruth’s fly-half Fraser Honey has been appointed Cornwall Captain for this season’s Bill Beaumont Cup campaign which kicks off at Redruth on Saturday May 6^th against Somerset.

Honey, who played for Launceston at one stage in his career, made his first County Championship appearance for Cornwall in 2018 in the 15-all draw against Surrey at Camborne. He became a permanent fixture in the Cornwall side the following season and has twice won the Bill Beaumont Cup with Cornwall at Twickenham in 2019 and 2022.

Kevin Thomas, the Chairman of Selectors, and a former Twickenham winner himself with Cornwall in 1991, was pleased to announce the appointment of Honey. He said. “I am delighted that Fraser has accepted the invitation to Captain the Cornwall Senior squad for 2023 Championship season. Fraser has a fantastic rugby pedigree and a heap of Championship experience. He will set high standards throughout the squad and he will lead by example. I look forward to working with him over the coming weeks and wish him and his squad the very best for the Championship matches.”

Honey spoke of his appointment. “I’m truly honoured and extremely proud to have been appointed Cornwall captain for the 2023 County Championship Campaign. Playing for Cornwall means a huge amount to me and to get the opportunity to captain Cornwall in such a prestigious competition is a huge privilege. I’m itching to get started with this group of boys and to be back playing in front of Trelawny’s Army once again in our quest to keep the Bill Beaumont Trophy in Cornwall for another year’

Cornwall RFU Chairman Dave Saunter had this to say about Honey.  “This is great news, I have followed Fraser’s career from his colts days. He is a quality player who leads off the front foot. This appointment is the next step on his rugby journey which I know he will relish. I wish both Fraser and all the players pulling on the Black and Gold this season every success and hopefully we can look forward to another trip to Twickenham at the end of May”.

Cornwall’s Bill Beaumont Cup games;

May 6^th Cornwall v Somerset @ Redruth RFC 3 pm

May 13^th Hampshire v Cornwall @ Havant RFC 3 pm

May 20^th Cornwall v Kent @ Camborne RFC 3 pm

JASON LEONARD CUP

DEVON U20, 35 – 29 CORNWALL U20

By Bill Hooper at Brickfields

Cornwall came up just short in their opening Under 20 County Championship game against Devon, despite outscoring the hosts on the try front. The difference came down to kicking with Devon’s fly-half Giles Clarke kicking 17 points.

The win also saw the Brunel Cup wrested from Cornish hands, Cornwall having been inaugural winners last season at Camborne.

Ideal playing conditions saw Devon kick-off and earn an immediate penalty on the twenty-two which fly-half Clarke pushed wide of the sticks.

Cornwall got into the game, good lineout ball from Lock Joe Maunder set up a good Cornish move culminating in scrum-half Ben Rosevear scoring. Nat Dart added the extras.

A loose kick from Cornwall gave Devon full-back Fraser Felton the chance to run from deep, Cornwall dropped off the tackles allowing the play to be carried on by the Devon backs before flanker Jacob Gaskin finished off the move for an unconverted try.

Gaskin was catching the eye for Devon and proved a handful at the breakdown, whilst for Cornwall Falmouth’s Matt Pritchard at hooker had a fine game notably in the loose.

A penalty by Clarke on the half-hour mark nudged Devon ahead, before a strong finish to the half saw Devon go through the phases before lock Liam Bayley crashed over. Clarke’s conversion giving the hosts a 15-7 half-time lead.

Spectators had barely time to take their seats after the break when Cornwall wing Lewis Bostock seized on a ball and hared down the touchline to score in the corner for an unconverted try.

Cornwall continued their purple patch Pritchard, charged forward before slipping a pass to wing Lachlan Surridge to dive in at the corner.

The seesaw nature of the game continued, another penalty from Clarke regained the lead for Devon, before Cornwall’s skipper Joss Pascoe sliced through to dot down a score converted by Dart.

Cornwall should have looked to control the game, instead they allowed Devon back when Elliot Fielding scored with Clarke again on the money with the extras.

Surridge went over for Cornwall’s fifth try to snatch back the lead, it proved short-lived as Devon prop Harvey Courtis powered over from short-range for their fourth try.

Clarke added the conversion and then a final penalty near the end to confirm Devon’s win.

After the match coach Richie Kevern was naturally disappointed. “We left too many chances out there today. I thought we should have been ahead at half-time on the balance of play. Unfortunately we didn’t take them and we were punished for that.

“I cannot fault our effort, in the second half we fought back and showed spirit, today was a big learning lesson on taking chances and then controlling the game.

“A couple of poor kick chases from us and Devon have run them back and scored is  a coach killer, but we will learn and look to make amends against Gloucestershire.”

Cornwall will look to re-group against Gloucestershire at Camborne, on Sunday 9^th April.

Cornwall U.20: (Falmouth, unless stated): H Penhallurick, L Bostock (Truro), J Pascoe (Truro), J Stanlake (St. Austell), L Surridge (Camborne), N Dart (Camborne), B Rosevear; M Cardwell (Pirate Ams) M Pritchard, M Boothby (St. Austell), J Maunder (St. Austell), W Perkin (St. Ives), G Blacklock (Newquay Hornets), F Trewin (Penryn), J Peck.

Replacements: W Eddy (Pirate Ams), A Williams (Penryn),  A Harris (St. Just), R O’Regan, J Statton (Launceston), J Walker, F Deavin.   

Cornwall scores: Tries, Rosevear 6, Bostock 41, Surridge 48, 67, Pascoe 54, Cons, Dart 7, 55.

CORNWALL RFU UNDER 20 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

2020 The Jason Leonard Cup.

Cornwall Rugby Football Union (CRFU) Under 20 County Championship
campaign 2023 gets underway with their first fixture in the Jason
Leonard Cup. The team travel to neighbours Devon for their first pool
game of the competition on Sunday 19 March. The game will be played
at Plymouth Albion RFC with a 1400 kick off time.
CRFU President John Sumnall said “It is great to get this year’s
campaign off with a local tie against our neighbours Devon. We
thank all our sponsors for their support and assistance with this
group of players in this important game representing Cornwall. It is
fantastic to see so many different clubs represented, and we thank
them for their support to enable these fixtures to be played”.
Cornwall have named Joss Pascoe (Truro) as the captain for the
season, alongside him is another player from last season Penryn RFC
Freddie Trewin, who is the vice-captain.
Coach Rich Kevern said – “This will be a good test for this new set of
young players. Last season has been and gone, and we start a
fresh with a whole group of new players entering the competition.
Playing Devon is never easy, playing Devon on their home turf will
be an even bigger challenge for these guys”.
Cornwall has maintained the same coaching set with Tyler Gendall, Brad
Howe coaching the forwards and Richie Kevern coaching the backs.
Cornwall Captain Joss Pascoe said, – “It is an honour to be asked to
captain the side for this season. I know the guys are up for a tough
campaign as always and have trained well in preparation for this
game. This is my second season with the 20’s and I know that it is a
tough competition, and we will have to perform at our best in every
game. We have had great numbers at training, and I know some
guys will be disappointed not to be in the team, but this is a squad
for the season so keep pushing us for those places, nobody’s shirt
is fixed. For those who will run out with me on the 19th, we have a
big task ahead of us but I’m confident in our ability”.

Cornwall ‘s second pool game will be Gloucestershire at Camborne RFC
on Sunday April 9th with a 1400 kick off time. A third pool game will be
played on Sunday 23rd April again at Camborne RFC with a 1400 kick
off time where are opponents will be Somerset.
The CRFU Chair Dave Saunter said, -” The vagaries of U20 rugby
mean we can lose up to 50% of our squad every year through age
qualification. So, we start to build again with a mixture of players
transitioning from the U18’s, new players identified and nominated
from clubs around the county. There are a number of these players
who will be around for the next 2 seasons and the we are always on
the lookout at new talent who can come into the squad and join
them over the coming seasons”.

There will be marketing and sponsorship opportunities with the Under
20’s team and matches, any individuals or companies that may be
interested are asked to contact Colin Hatch in the first instance.

Email – hatch0348@btinternet.com
Mob – 07967725368

Bill Hooper
Cornwall RFU Assistant Hon Sec
13/03/2023

Cornwall U20 v Devon U20
Sunday 19th March @ Plymouth Albion RFC 1400 kick off.

Cornwall Squad

1 MAX CARDWELL PIRATE AMATEURS
2 MATT PRITCHARD FALMOUTH
3 MATT BOOTHBY ST. AUSTELL
4 JOE MAUNDER ST. AUSTELL
5 WILL PERKIN ST. IVES
6 GIDEON BLACKLOCK NEWQUAY HORNETS
7 FREDDIE TREWIN (V CAPT) PENRYN
8 JOWAN PECK FALMOUTH
9 BEN ROSEVEAR FALMOUTH
10 NAT DART CAMBORNE
11 LACHLAN SURRIDGE CAMBORNE
12 JAMIE STANLAKE ST. AUSTELL
13 JOSS PASCOE (CAPTAIN) TRURO
14 LEWIS BOSTOCK TRURO
15 HARVEY PENHALURICK FALMOUTH
16 WES EDDY PENZANCE & NEWLYN
17 ANGUS WILLIAMS PENRYN
18 ARCHIE HARRIS ST. JUST
19 ROWAN O’REGAN FALMOUTH
20 JACK STATTON LAUNCESTON
21 JOE WALKER FALMOUTH
22 FIN DEAVIN FALMOUTH
23 ROWAN LAWRENCE FALMOUTH
24 BEN JONES PERRANPORTH
25 HARRY WALSH-NEWTON FALMOUTH
26 ARCHIE DINNIS LAUNCESTON

Coaches – Rich Kevern, Tyler Gendall, Brad Howe
Team Manager Colin Hatch, Assistant Terry Williams
Medical cover – Neville Curnow + Graham Ashton
Kit – Paul Hurrell, Photographer Simon Bryant, Match Day filming
David Burrows, Multimedia – Kevin Bishop

Cornwall RFU are delighted that the Tamar Cup fixture against Devon returns to the calendar for the first time since 2019.

The CRFU are also very pleased that St. Austell RFC’s Tregorrick Park Ground has again been chosen to host the fixture, as they did in 2018.

This season’s match kicks off at 7:30 pm. Entry is £5, with Under 16s free.

The last game in the series in 2019, was held at Plymouth Albion’s Brickfields Ground when Cornwall defeated Devon by 28-13, thanks in part to a hat-trick of tries scored by Alex Ducker.

This season both Cornwall and Devon will use the fixture as preparation for their respective County Championship campaigns.

Both sides will be drawing players from level 5 down for this match, with St. Austell’s Matt Shepherd captaining Cornwall from full-back on the night.

This is an ideal opportunity for many in this Tamar Cup side to put their hands up for inclusion in the County Championship squad when that is announced next month.

Cornwall (St. Austell, unless stated): Shepherd (Capt), Kessell (Camborne), Parsons, Semmens (Pirate Ams), Levick (Penryn), Simmonds (Camborne), Boyce; Job, Davey, Prowse (Camborne), Vian, Edwards (Wadebridge Camels), Inch, Nicholls (Camborne), Duncan (Truro).

Replacements: Bentham (Devonport Services), Southworth (Camborne), Heazelton (Camborne), Taylor, Jolly (Camborne), Brownfield (Pirate Ams), Sidwell (Camborne), Tyrrell.

Trelawny’s Army look forward to a good turnout of supporters on Wednesday evening.

We will be sponsoring the match ball, as well as making the presentation to the Cornwall Player of the Match with the Paul Bawden Memorial Trophy.

At Hayle RFC

Wednesday 1st March, kick-off 7:30 pm, entry £2, under 16s free.

Team Manager Colin Hatch had this to say regarding the squad selection. “The coaches have made a number of changes from the last game v Cornwall Clubs to enable them to see as many players on the field as possible before selecting their first championship team in 2 weeks time. This squad represents 11 different clubs, from St Just in the West to Saltash in the East and many in between with a number of players travelling back from university in Cardiff to play in this last warm up game.”

Cornwall U20 v Camborne School of Mines
Hayle RFC Wednesday 1 March 19:30 KO

Cornwall U20 Team

1) Max Cardwell – Pirates Ams
2) Wes Eddy – Pirate Ams
3) Archie Harris – St Just
4) Joe Maunder – St Austell
5) Jowan Peck – Falmouth
6) Rowan O’Regan – Falmouth
7) Giddy Blacklock – Falmouth
8) Connor Triggs – Truro (Vice Captain)
9) Will Tanswell – Penryn
10) Harry Walsh-Newton – Falmouth
11) Fin Deavin – Falmouth
12) Joss Pascoe – Truro (Captain)
13) Ben Jones – Perranporth
14) Ayden Earnshaw – Penryn
15) Harvey Penhalurick – Falmouth
16) Harry Rogers – Pirates Ams
17) Rowan Lawrence – Falmouth
18) Angus Williams – Penryn
19) Will Perkin – St Ives
20) Sunny Staffieri – Wadebridge Camels
21) Max Badman – Newquay Hornets
22) Ben Rosevear – Falmouth
23) Archie Bees – St Austell
24) Tom Hollyman – Saltash
25) Jack Counter – Wadebridge Camels

Coaches Richie Kevern & Tyler Gendall

The Tamar Cup is back. This is the first fixture since 2019.

Cornwall will be looking to defend the Cup against old foes Devon at Tregorrick Park, St. Austell on Wednesday 15th March, kick-off 7:30 pm.

Trelawny’s Army will once again be sponsoring the Match Ball and making the presentation to the Cornwall player of the match with the Paul Bawden trophy.

Squad news will be posted when known.

Cornwall U20’s present montage picture of their season, to kit suppliers O’Neills

Peter Kennedy from O’Neills the official kit supplier of the CRFU visited the county recently and was presented with a montage picture depicting the successful U20 season in which they won the Jason Leonard Cup for the first time.

Colin Hatch U20’s team manager said “It was an honour to present Peter with the montage picture to recognise and thank O’Neills, and Peter for their work and support, not just last season, but since the partnership was formed some years ago” Thanks must also go to Simon Bryant for collating the montage from his images.

Pictured at the presentation, Dave Saunter Chair of the CRFU, Peter Kennedy O’Neills, and Colin Hatch Cornwall U20’s team manager with the cups and shields that the 3 senior Cornwall teams won last season.

Colin Hatch

Cornwall U20’s Team Manager