For their opening game in 2024, the Cornish Pirates travel to play Cambridge this Saturday. Kick-off at the Ellgia Fields is at 2pm.

This season’s Championship newcomers, who won 28-26 away to London Scottish last time out, and who the Pirates beat 62-17 away in the Premiership Rugby Cup earlier this season, have started to show signs they are finding their feet at a higher level, and are therefore clearly a team who can be seen as a potential threat.

This week’s Cornish Pirates selection sees a return at full-back for fit again Kyle Moyle. Will Trewin moves out to the wing and there is a new centre pairing with Robin Wedlake named to partner Joe Elderkin. In the forwards, prop Fin Richardson will make his first league start for the Pirates, whilst Josh Williams is selected alongside Steele Barker in the second row. Club captain John Stevens is presently injured, so flanker Alex Everett will wear the skipper’s armband with Hugh Bokenham stepping back into the back row at number 8. On the bench, it is pleasing to see Will Britton listed. Recovered from a knee injury, if he makes an appearance then it will be his first league outing this season.

Commenting ahead of Saturday’s contest, coach Louie Tonkin has said:

“Having had a tough and physical game against Hartpury just before Christmas, the three-week break since then has enabled us to get some of the boys back to full health, along with one or two others who were recovering from injury.

“Looking forward now to Saturday, we are aware Cambridge are a massively improved side to when we played them back in September, certainly around their kicking game, and their pack is also a real force. They had a really good win away to London Scottish and have developed into a team who we need to take very seriously.”

The Cornish Pirates full selection for Saturday is as follows:

Cornish Pirates:   15 Kyle Moyle 14 Will Trewin 13 Robin Wedlake 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Matt McNab 10 Bruce Houston 9 Alex Schwarz; 1 Lefty Zigiriadis 2 Morgan Nelson 3 Fin Richardson 4 Josh Willams 5 Steele Barker 6 Alex Everett (captain) 7 Will Gibson 8 Hugh Bokenham.

Replacements:   16 Rhys Williams 17 Jacob Morris 18 Matt Johnson 19 Will Britton, 20 Harry Dugmore 21 Ruaridh Dawson 22 Iwan Jenkins 23 Tom Pittman.