CORNWALL RFU UNDER 20 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
2024 The Jason Leonard Cup.
Cornwall Rugby Football Union (CRFU) Under 20 County Championship campaign 2024 gets underway with their first fixture in the Jason Leonard Cup. The team hosts neighbours Devon for their first pool game of the competition on Sunday 10 March. The game will be played at Camborne RFC with a 2 pm kick off.
CRFU President Andy Reed 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”.
Admission is by programme £5, with Under 16s free.
Both sides will also compete for the Brunel Cup in this fixture.
Cornwall have named Will Perkin (St Ives), pictured above, as the captain for the season, alongside him is another player from last season, Jack Statton from Launceston, who is the vice-captain.
Coach Rich Kevern said – “This will be a good test for this new set of young players. We start a fresh with a whole group of new players entering the competition for the first time. Playing Devon is never easy, playing Devon in the very first game of the season will be an even bigger challenge for these guys”.
Cornwall has a new coaching set up this season, so joining well established Rich Kevern is ex U20 player and current Cornish Pirates lock Steele Barker as the forward’s coach. Always keen to encourage young coaches into the game we see ex senior county player David Mankee assisting the backs with Rich, and Jago Sheppard another ex U20 and member of the winning 2022 team and current Camborne player assisting Steele with the forwards.
Cornwall Captain Will Perkin said, – “It is an honour to be asked to be 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 10th, we have a big task ahead of us but I’m confident in our ability”.
Cornwall ‘s second pool game will be Somerset away on Sunday 21st April at Taunton RFC with a 2 pm kick off time and then Gloucestershire at Cheltenham RFC on Sunday 5th May again with a 2 pm kick off.
We will be monitoring the weather this week. If there are any changes regarding the venue of the match this will be advised on the Cornwall RFU website and social media channels.
CORNWALL U.20: Harvey Penhallurick (Falmouth), Ben Roskilly (Penryn), Jack Statton (Launceston), Alfie Hammersley (Falmouth), Jack Keogh (St. Just), Dean Wills, Jacob Chapple (both Redruth); Rowan Lawrence (Falmouth), Pete Harris (St. Austell), Angus Williams (Penryn), Charlie Knight (Saltash), Will Perkin (Capt, St. Ives), Finn Lister (Penryn), Wes Eddy (Pirates Ams), Dom Ellery (Newquay Hornets).
Replacements: Dan Pope (Camborne SoM), Finn Holt (Redruth), George Oakley (St. Austell), Olly Derry, Will Symons (both Wadebridge Camels), Harry Walsh-Newton (Falmouth), Rhys Richards (Redruth).
