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

Cornwall u20’s concluded their warm up fixtures with a convincing win over an experienced Cornwall Clubs XV , at St Austell RFC, 38 – 5. This was a sterner test than the previous game v School of Mines, more physical, which was exactly what was needed.

U20’s started strongly going 19 – 0 up after half an hour with the first try scored by forwards pushing over the line . Prop Derry then added another shortly after, then Rigg on the half hour. Two conversions by fly half Kerry set the u20’s on a period of domination. A final score of the half by wing forward Symons was again converted by Kerry bringing the half time score to 26-0. It was not all one way traffic as the u20’s were called upon to do some stout defending in the final 10 mins of the half.

Shortly after the start of the second half the coaches emptied the bench bringing on all 10 subs. This had an effect on the cohesion and play became more fractured during the second period. However, it did give players an opportunity to show what they could do.

The u20’s managed 2 tries in the final quarter, Blyth and Kullich, the first again converted by Kerry. In between those scores Clubs managed a try after forward pressure, making a final score of 38-5.

The coaches have seen a number of players over the 2 warm up games and there will be some interesting choices facing the selection team. Numbers training on a Sunday morning at Truro College have been very good with over 40 players turning up for every session. There will be a further 3 sessions before the first County Championship game at Camborne at the end of the month.

Terry Williams
Assistant Team Manager

Cornwall U20 v Cornwall Clubs XV

Wednesday 26 February @ St Austell RFC with a 1930 kick off time.

As part of the build up to the U20 County Championship campaign they play their second and final warmup game v a Cornwall Clubs XV on Wednesday 26 February at St Austell RFC.

Coaches Rich Kevern have used the opportunity to look at a few new players in the squad after their first warm up game against a competitive Camborne School of Mines side in January. A few new players have joined the squad transitioning from the U18 age group, along with players identified at club level.

The squad of 25 player includes players from 12 different clubs across Cornwall which is a great advert for this age group and club rugby.

Head coach Rich Kevern said: – This will be a stern test for these young guys facing a Clubs XV who will bring experience and game hardness with them. We want this to be that kind of test as in a few weeks’ time we will be facing other tough county sides in the championship.

Team Manager LJ Collick said; – We have had good numbers at training and over 70 in the enlarged squad. We cannot give everyone game time in two matches and, build for the championship. We have observed other players in club matches, and certainly all players are in contention for a spot come the championship games.

Jack Jenkin (Helston) has been named as Captain with Ted Kullich (Camborne) being named as Vice-Captain of the 25-player squad.

Entry on the evening is £2 with under 16 gaining free entry. So come along and support the future Cornwall players along with those representing several of their own clubs in the Clubs XV side.

Cornwall U20 Team

1. Dan Bennett                         St Austell
2. Jalal Bennett                         Truro
3. Olly Derry                              Wadebridge Camels
4. Charlie Knight                      Saltash
5. Oli Wells                                Redruth
6. Freddy Jordan                      Penryn
7. Will Symons                          Wadebridge Camels
8. Jack Jenkin (Capt)               Helston
9. Callum Phillips                     Wadebridge Camels
10.  Jowan Kerry                         Perranporth
11.  Harry Rigg                            Helston
12.  Billy Jordan                          Penryn
13.  Ted Kullich (V Capt)           Camborne
14.  Rhys Bowery                       Newquay Hornets
15.  Ayden Earnshaw                Helston
16.  Leo Armstrong Lever          Helston
17.  Telio Jenkins                        St Ives
18.  Will Luscombe                     Redruth
19.  Rosko Troughton                Helston
20.  Ben Smith                            Camborne
21.  Jarvis Lee                             Truro
22.  Barney Lewis                       Newquay Hornets
23.  Josh Blyth                            Hayle
24.  Luke Young                         Redruth
25.  Lewis Wiltshire                    Wadebridge Camels

Coaches   – Rich Kevern, Brad Howe, David Mankee

Team Manager – LJ Collick, Assistant Terry Williams

Medical Cover – Hen Gard, Ronnie Bartlett

Kit – Paul Hurrell, Colin Hatch

Match recording David Burrows, Photographer Simon Bryant, Multi-media Kevin Bishop