By CRFU Press Officer John Martin
Sunday 27th May is the date for the 2018 County Championship Final of the Bill Beaumont Cup, the highest level of County Rugby in this country. The Cornwall team has reached this final for the last five years in a row so it has become an expectation from the loyal fans of Trelawny’s Army that it will happen again!
The long road to that date has begun for potential new Cornwall players with the first training session held at Perranporth Rugby Club on Wednesday 18th October.
Thirty Cornish based players had been invited by the selectors, who had travelled around watching numerous club matches and picking out those who caught the eye.
Led by Head Coach Graham Dawe, assisted by Rhodri McAtee, the players were put through their paces with a skills session, handling drills, followed by decision making in game scenarios and defensive formations.
With some of last year’s Cornwall team, who lost 19-8 to Lancashire at Twickenham, now unavailable for various reasons, there are places up for grabs in the squad so, as expected, competition for places will be quite intense.
Before the session, Graham Dawe addressed the assembled players with the message that the Cornwall team is a revolving door, players leave – players come in, but the one thing that remains the same is that supporters expect Cornwall to do well in the County Championship!
Graham also said he wants to see if these players can buy into the Cornish culture and he is looking for the next players to wear the famous Black & Gold. Talking generally about rugby, Graham added, “life is about enthusiasm and passion and I love seeing young players fulfil their potential.”
After a further training session on Monday 13th November, a Cornwall Development XV will be selected to play Launceston at Polson Bridge on Saturday 18th November. More details to come through the CRFU website and local press.
Bill Beaumont Cup Fixtures 2018
Saturday 5th May Cornwall v Surrey at Redruth
Saturday 12th May Cornwall v Devon at Camborne
Saturday 19th May Hertfordshire v Cornwall at Bishop Stortford
Sunday 27th May FINAL at Twickenham
Players who attended on 18th Oct.
| Ethan Patterson | Redruth |
| Kieran Brownfield | Pirate Amateurs |
| Sam Chapman | Wadebridge Camels |
| Rory Cinnamond | Launceston |
| Tommy Lee Southworth | Camborne |
| Ryan Rayner | Saltash |
| Jack Hazeltone | Truro |
| Billy Roberts | Brixham |
| Joe Wilson | Bude |
| Adam Hughes | Penryn |
| Lewis Wells | Saltash |
| Ben Humber | Wadebridge Camels |
| Tom Simmons | Falmouth |
| Noah Nash | Brixham |
| Mitch Vague | Penryn |
| William Morton | Saltash |
| Benjamin Tyler-Guy | Camborne |
| Pete Mabbott | St. Ives |
| Declan Matthews | Camborne |
| Andrew Seviour | Penryn |
| Kieran Down | Saltash |
| Dan Pearce | Launceston |
| Tom Edmonds | Falmouth |
