Cornwall Under 20 team named to play Gloucestershire

CORNWALL RFU UNDER 20 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP 2025 The Jason Leonard Cup.

Cornwall Rugby Football Union (CRFU) Under 20 County Championship campaign 2025 gets underway with their first fixture in the Jason Leonard Cup. The team hosts Gloucestershire for their first pool game of the competition on Sunday 30^th March. The game will be played at Camborne RFC with a 1400 kick off time.

CRFU President Andy Reed said “It is great to get this year’s competition off with a tie against Gloucestershire. 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 Jack Jenkin (Helston, pictured above) as the captain for the season, alongside him is another new player this season, Ted Kullich from Camborne, 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 Gloucestershire is never easy, playing Gloucestershire 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 Camborne player Brad Howe 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.  There is also a change in the team management with LJ Collick from Helston taking over as Team Manager. LJ has many years of experience and has been involved with the U18’s and the Southwest sides.

Cornwall Captain Jack Jenkin 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 first 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 30th, we have a big task ahead of us but I’m confident in our ability”.

Cornwall ‘s second pool game will be Devon away on Sunday 27th April at Tiverton RFC with a 1400 kick off time and then finally Somerset at Redruth RFC on Sunday 11^th May again with a 1400 kick off time.

The CRFU Chair Steve Murley 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 we are always on the lookout at new talent who can come into the squad and join them over the coming seasons. For those joining the U20s, it is part of their rugby education adapting to different teammates, coaches and patterns of play. Our U20s have a great record of rising to these challenges and it is always a pleasure to see them progress and develop as a team”.

Entry on the day will be via the purchase of a match programme at a cost of £5, with Under 16’s having free entry. Or tickets can be pre purchased on the CRFU website Fan Base link. https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=9772 

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 Tanya Thomas of the CRFU in the first instance. 

Email – commercial-development@crfu.co.uk

24/03/2024
                             Cornwall U20 v Gloucestershire U20

Sunday 30th March @ Camborne RFC 1400 kick off.

Coaches – Rich Kevern, Brad Howe, David Mankee

Team Manager LJ Collick, Assistant Terry Williams

Medical cover – Hen Gard + Sam West

Kit – Paul Hurrell + Colin Hatch, Photographer Simon Bryant, Match Day filming David Burrows, Multimedia – Kevin Bishop