Rugby Football Union
Cornwall fielded five sides at Under 15 level against Bristol Schools on Wednesday at Weston Hornets. 80 lads enjoying a great day of rugby, cheered on by Jack Nowell.
Congratulations to all on your brilliant results.
Good luck for your games in March against Devon and Dorset & Wilts.
Thank you to Karen Austin for allowing us to use her photograph.
Cornwall Rugby Football Union (CRFU) Under 20 County Championship team, play their only home fixture in the pool stage of the 2020 Jason Leonard Cup. The team host Berkshire at Camborne RFC with a 1330 kick off time on Sunday 23 February, and will be played on the main pitch.
Cornwall Under 20 coaches Richie Kevern and Tyler Gendall have made ten changes, three positional, to the side ahead of Sunday’s Jason Leonard Cup pool game against Berkshire at Camborne RFC.
Coach Rich Kevern said – “The first game against Devon has to be a wakeup call for the players. We had lots of opportunities to win the game but didn’t take them and allowed a strong Devon team to get back into the match. Discipline is another area we have to improve and to ensure that we keep to our game.
The changes are; in the front row, James Lambourn comes in at loose-head with Oliver Mackenzie at hooker.
In the second row Penryn’s Steele Barker partners Mawgan Osborne, whilst Toby Osborne goes from lock to blindside flanker.
Saltash player Jack Wickham comes in at No.8.
There is a change at half-back with James Tucker starting at fly-half, with skipper Aaron Simmonds moving to the outside centre berth, St. Austell’s Ben Plummer moves to inside centre and fellow Saint Fraser Nottle coming in at 14.
Another Penryn player, Charlie Levick comes in at full-back.
The coaches are at present unable to confirm the complete line up on the replacements bench due to re-arranged league matches taking place on the Saturday, however they have named five forwards with three backs to be added.
Cornwall Captain Aaron Simmonds said; – “The guys were disappointed with our performance against Devon. We had been prepared well by the coaches but let ourselves down in a number of areas on the field which cost us dearly and ultimately the result! This is our only home game and it would be great to get the fantastic Cornish crowd to turnout and support us at Camborne on Sunday. ”
CRFU President John Sumnall said “We are pleased to be playing this game at Camborne RFC and thank the club and its members for hosting us. Our first game saw 13 young players representing the County at this level for the first time and although the result in a tight game went against them, I am sure they will be up to the challenge of this tough game against Berkshire. It is fantastic to see so many different clubs represented, and we thank them and our sponsors for their support to enable these fixtures to be played.”
Berkshire lost their opening game to Gloucestershire so both counties will be looking for a win to kick-start their hopes of making the knockout stages.
Cornwall‘s final pool game will be hosted by Dings RFC in Bristol on Sunday 15 March where the opponents will be Gloucestershire.
The team manager Colin Hatch said; -“The President rightly points out the number of new players that played in our last game, however it is no different for any other county in this competition. A number of these guys are playing rugby week in and week out for their clubs at all levels of the game. We have emphasised the fact that this competition is short and if we don’t perform then it is over for this season. I am sure that the players will have learnt from the first game and will want to make amends in this home game.”
Cornwall Team to play Berkshire
| 1 | James Lambourn | Pirates Ams |
| 2 | Mackenzie Oliver | Redruth |
| 3 | Eliot Salt | Cardiff Met |
| 4 | Steele Barker | Penryn |
| 5 | Mawgan Osborne | Pirates Ams |
| 6 | Toby Osborne | Pirates Ams |
| 7 | Tom Spiers (Vice Captain) | Truro |
| 8 | Jack Wickham | Saltash |
| 9 | Ali Stacey | Redruth |
| 10 | James Tucker | St Austell |
| 11 | Max Bullen | St Austell |
| 12 | Ben Plummer | St Austell |
| 13 | Aaron Simmonds (Captain) | Redruth |
| 14 | Fraser Nottle | St Austell |
| 15 | Charlie Levick | Penryn |
| Replacements | ||
| 16 | Cameron Taylor | St Austell |
| 17 | Mishka Fibbens | Penryn |
| 18 | Callum Looker | Cardiff Met |
| 19 | Caden Brownfield | Hayle |
| 20 | Connor George | Unattached |
| Backs bench and travelling reserves from | ||
| James Murray | Redruth | |
| Jordan Sidwell | Redruth | |
| Adam Long | Camborne | |
| Guy Brooks | Penryn | |
| Oakley Smitham | Camborne | |
| Travelling reserves forwards | ||
| 26 | Devon Bennet-Murray | Saltash |
| 27 | Matt Vincent | Hayle |
| 28 | Joe Best | St Just |
Coaches – Rich Kevern + Tyler Gendall, assisted by Adam Kevern + Brad Howe
Gates open to the public at 1230, with entry for adults costing £5 including a programme. Young people under the age of 16 accompanied by an adult get free entry.
Saturday 22nd February sees various semi-finals in the Tribute CRFU Cups.
Tribute Cornwall Clubs Cup
St. Agnes v Hayle
Camborne School of Mines v Newquay Hornets (this fixture will be played as a double-header on Saturday 21-3-20
Tribute Cornwall Clubs Plate
Lankelly-Fowey v St. Just
Bodmin v Illogan Park
Tribute Cornwall Clubs Vase
Helston v Roseland
Perranporth v Stithians
Tribute Cornwall Clubs Shield Final (to be played on Finals day)
Camelford v Redruth Albany
Tribute Duchy Cup
Launceston II v Camborne II
Redruth II v Wadebridge Camels II
Tribute Duchy Plate
St. Austell II v Bodmin II
Falmouth II v Bude II
Tribute Duchy Vase Final (to be played on Finals day)
Veor II v Penryn II
The following was sent out in an e-mail today to Club Rugby Safe leads by Bob Hubble, CB Rugby Safe Officer;
With the current spate of poor weather, there has been some discussion in various areas about deciding whether a game should go ahead or not. In short, clubs should have appropriate risk assessments in place and be making use of their Rugby Safe leads in the decision making process so that the coaches have a structured basis on determining the risks and consequences of playing or cancelling. The risk assessment should not just be that of pitch condition, but also include the risks of travel, which is why there cannot be a hard and fast rule as every match is unique. When in doubt or it is a 50/50 decision, then it is only wise for caution to prevail – a seemingly obvious statement, but one that sometimes gets overlooked when faced with the prospect of potentially disappointing players and supporters!!
If you have any concerns then please contact Bob Hubble rugbysafe@crfu.co.uk
With storm Dennis due to hit Cornwall this weekend St Agnes RFC have reluctantly decided to postpone their “Kick Charity into Touch” fundraiser.
Further information will be published in due course regarding the new date.
We are pleased to release the application form for the U13 Cornwall Rugby Skills Programme 2020. Download the application form to complete and return to Rich Siveter at the address enclosed. We look forward to seeing you all soon!
For information, the date has been changed for the above finals.
The new date is Saturday 30th May 2020, with all five finals to be held at Twickenham Stadium.
County finals day will not run alongside the England v Barbarians fixture which remains on Sunday 21st June.
Should a Cornwall side or both qualify for a final(s) the timings are as follows;
Gill Burns Division 2 Final, kick-off 11 am.
Bill Beaumont Cup Final, kick-off 3 pm.
A great incentive for both our Men’s and Women’s teams to reach Twickenham.
Everyone connected with Cornwall RFU and the wider Cornish rugby family will wish to join us in wishing former Cornwall captain Graham Bate a very happy 80th Birthday.
We were contacted by Graham’s family, who were looking to put together some of Graham’s rugby memories ahead of the big day, but couldn’t locate his county cap.
Graham, who played for Penryn and Falmouth and was an England trialist, played on 64 occasions for Cornwall, famously captaining the side in the 1969 County Final lost to Lancashire at Redruth.
The CRFU were happy to oblige and furnish the family with brand new cap to mark the occasion.
By all accounts a great day was had by Graham, his family and many rugby friends.
By Bill Hooper, at the Eden Project
Cornwall RFU held on Sunday it’s pre-championship team building day at new team co-sponsor the Eden Project.
Despite being bruised and battered from their games the previous day, players and their families came along for a specially arranged day that was also family orientated.
We were welcomed by Head of Media Relations at Eden, David Rowe, who reminded us that Eden had been involved with the county side some 18 years ago.
County Chairman Dave Saunter then welcomed everyone on behalf of the CRFU.
There followed presentations to the players about the program for this season along with the unveiling of the new county shirt which this season features a white collar and a passing nod to the 1991 shirt.
County President John Sumnall thanked everybody for attending and paid tribute to all the county sponsors, St. Austell Brewery, Kelsall Steele, Brooks Macdonald, Eden Project and Trelawny’s Army.
Trelawny’s Army members then led the audience in the singing of Trelawny before everyone tucked into an excellent buffet provided by the Eden Project.
Last season’s county skipper Ben Hilton was delighted with the turnout. He said. “It’s wonderful turnout given the weather conditions that are prevailing across Cornwall, around 150 people here today just to launch our campaign is amazing.
Hilton feels that there is always a special buzz on these occasions. “It’s a great communal feeling, the coming together of the clans, it doesn’t matter if you are playing at Redruth or Liskeard-Looe or wherever you come together for a common cause.
“I am really excited to see Eden coming onboard as a partner this season alongside some of our more established sponsors, it’s great that they have a belief in us and listening to David Rowe speaking I feel sure that this partnership will endure well past my playing days.
Hilton’s enthusiasm for playing for Cornwall remains undiminished. “Playing for Cornwall has been and remains a big part of my playing career. If I can transmit some of my passion to the young players coming into the squad then I am delighted. Everybody here today wants to be part of it, but to succeed you must put in the hard work at training and buy into our ethos.
“Once again we will go into games as underdogs, but our belief and the support from Trelawny’s Army will motivate us and push us to give our best.”
Thanks must also be expressed to St. Austell Brewery who provided us with the video presentation and also their excellent beer.
We are delighted to announce that Man Down Cornwall has been chosen as our charity to support during 2020.
The announcement was made at the Cornwall team get-together held at the Eden Project on Sunday 9th February.
In addition we will also be supporting Wooden Spoon during 2020.
We look forward to raising as much as possible during the year for these worthy causes.
