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Cornwall Under 20 v Gloucestershire Under 20

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Cornwall Rugby Football Union (CRFU) Under 20 County Championship home campaign 2023 gets underway with their second fixture in the Jason Leonard Cup. The team host Gloucestershire U20’s for their second pool game of the competition on Sunday 9th April. The game will be played at Camborne RFC with a 1400 kick off time.

Cornwall narrowly lost their first game away to Devon 35 – 29 but came away with 2 losing bonus points. Gloucestershire had an emphatic win away to Somerset 17 – 61 to top the table. Entry on the day will be £5 which includes a programme with U16 gaining free admission.

This Sunday Cornwall will be looking for the win that will keep their chances of progressing to the knockout stages of this season’s competition alive.

The coaches have made a number of changes to the side to face Gloucestershire.

In the pack, there is one change with Connor Triggs of Truro starting at No.8 in place of Jowan Peck.

There is a shake up in the backline, whilst the back three remain unchanged, skipper Joss Pascoe moves from centre to fly-half with Joe Walker at scrum-half to forming a new half-back partnership. The mid-field combination sees Launceston’s Jack Statton step up from the bench to pair up with Jamie Stanlake, who started against Devon last time out.

Onto the bench come Peter Harris (St. Austell), Rowan Lawrence (Falmouth) and Ben Jones (Perranporth).

Coach Rich Kevern said. “We know that any Gloucestershire side will be a strong test, and after their result against Somerset they will be full of confidence. We did not play to our strengths on the last outing and have had to come away licking our wounds. It is now up to the guys to go out and perform against Gloucestershire if they want to proceed in this year’s competition”.

Cornwall Captain Joss Pascoe said, – “After the Devon game we came away and did a lot of soul searching! That was not the way we had trained, or been expected to play, and we owe it to the travelling supporters of Trelawny’s Army to put that right. The players know what is expected, what is needed, and we must as a group perform to progress within this year’s competition. For some guys this is their second year and have previously tasted success, for others this is their first and only year of being eligible and we need to put in a performance”.

Cornwall’s last pool game will be against Somerset at Camborne RFC on Sunday April 23rd with a 1400 kick off time. This season only the winners of the pool go through to the quarter-final which is another change from last season.

The CRFU Chair Dave Saunter said. “The team need to learn from their mistakes and move forward. We as a county know that they have trained hard and as last year proved Cornwall guys can and will give 110% to wear that Black and Gold shirt, this year’s set of players are no different.”

Cornwall U.20: H Penhallurick (Falmouth), L Bostock (Truro), J Statton (Launceston), J Stanlake (St. Austell), L Surridge (Camborne), J Pascoe (Truro,Capt), J Walker (Falmouth); M Cardwell (Pirates Ams), M Pritchard (Falmouth), M Boothby, J Maunder (both St. Austell), W Perkin (St. Ives), G Blacklock (Newquay Hornets), F Trewin (Penryn), C Triggs (Truro). Replacements: P Harris (St. Austell), A Harris (St. Just), R Lawrence (Falmouth), B Jones (Perranporth), B Rosevear, F Deavin (both Falmouth), W Eddy (Pirates Ams). 

RFU Tackle Height consultation

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The RFU would like to thank everyone who has participated in providing valuable feedback in our consultation on reducing the tackle height in the community game.

We have listened to thousands of players, volunteers and match officials to understand how we as a game can come together to best define and implement a reduction in the tackle height.

We have heard a wide range of views and gathered thoughts and ideas from 8,500 people through an online open survey, met with over 1000 people during 25 in-person and virtual forums across 13 locations and met 270 coaches, players, match officials, disciplinary officers, Club chairs and CBs, parents and teachers through 22 focus groups and online panels.

Everything you have told us is now being independently analysed by the research company YouGov. This independently verified feedback, will be presented to the RFU Council ensuring your views are directly heard.

Once the RFU Council have fully reviewed your feedback, decisions will be taken on the proposed law variation and game regulations. Further updates will be provided towards the end of April and we will then provide a range of materials including virtual and in person training and education tools to enable the tackle height reduction to be implemented as smoothly as possible. These materials are being developed using the views, ideas and needs you have shared with us.

We learned a lot from this process and are determined to maintain this two way dialogue so we can keep improving our support for the game.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed and to all of you who make rugby the game we know and love.

Nigel Gillingham
RFU President

Fraser Honey announced as Cornwall’s new Captain

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

May 13th Hampshire v Cornwall @ Havant RFC 3 pm

May 20th Cornwall v Kent @ Camborne RFC 3 pm

Cornwall Women announce squad for 2023 campaign

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

Sunday 21st 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.

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