This Friday evening will see the Cornish Pirates welcome the Royal Navy team to the Mennaye Field (ko 7.30pm).

This fixture replaces the originally arranged Cornish Pirates versus Jersey Reds league fixture, which had to be cancelled following the demise of the Jersey club.

The Cornish Pirates side, to be skippered by flanker Will Gibson, will see debuts for Billy Young (prop) and Harry Hocking (hooker). Billy is a former Saracens Academy member who has played for Canterbury and for Kent, and Harry, who has made appearances for Redruth this season, is dual registered with Exeter Chiefs.

Frankie Nowell is named at full-back, and Tom Pittman is to partner Tom Georgiou in the centre. Bruce Houston and Ruaridh Dawson will form the halfback pairing and, for this game, Jack Andrew will be in the second-row engine room alongside Josh King.

There are also six young guest players listed in the Pirates squad, one of whom, Harry Andrewartha, is named on the wing and has featured for Redruth this season. The other five, who will be keen for opportunities off the bench, are Pirates Amateurs players James Lambourn (prop), Toby Osborne (lock), and Archie Pilcher (back-row), along with Camborne’s Jago Sheppard (lock/back-row) and Will Tanswell (scrum-half).

A special word too for the appointed experienced referee, Tom Foley, who will be warmly welcomed not for the first time, and who was, of course, a leading official at last year’s Rugby World Cup.

Speaking ahead of Friday evening’s game, Cornish Pirates’ coach Murray Westren has said:

“Firstly, despite our defeat last time out against Ealing Trailfinders we could feel pleased to how things went in winning five games on the bounce ahead of that contest, and with the players having just had a week off it has given them a chance to rest bodies, including mentally, and to come back with some energy again.

“Now looking forward to this weekend, Friday nights under lights games are invariably very popular, and we are hopeful of a big crowd for what is amazingly just our second home game in 2024.

“Naturally, we are especially grateful to the Royal Navy for accepting the fixture following the demise of Jersey Reds. It is good for season ticket holders, supporters generally, the hospitality side of things, and for various players, including those keen for game time. Among them will be certain players returning from injury, and not forgetting several gifted young guest players who we’ll be welcoming. Also, of course, it is handy for the Navy’s squad who in a series of matches will prep towards the build up to the annual Babcock Trophy contest to be played against the Army at Twickenham in May.”

Match Day Collection:   The match day collection will be in support of the ‘Samaritans’ charity, plus it will take place in conjunction with monies also being raised for the charity by Cornish Pirates’ analyst Ed Hounsell who is running in the TCS London Marathon on Sunday 21^st April. Ed has good reason to support such a vital charity, as his personal and very open and honest story confirms. To read Ed’s story, and to view his marathon page directly, please note the following link:

https://2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/edward-hounsell?fbclid=IwAR0Hp0a1-de0OhKQJlZB-Ks4TFPJmHu5I3QfgyfycYnHCnHawpxSLHphQns

Tickets:   Supporters should note that season ticket holders will have free entry on Friday, and the club is also delighted to offer a £5 concession price for servicemen, women and veterans on the gate when showing ID.

All other tickets can be purchased via:

https://cornish-pirates.com/tickets/

Also, as usual, there will be tickets available at the gates on the day, open 5.30pm ahead of the 7.30pm kick-off.

Cornish Pirates:   15 Frankie Nowell 14 Robin Wedlake 13 Tom Georgiou 12 Tom Pittman 11 *Harry Andrewartha 10 Bruce Houston 9 Ruaridh Dawson; 1 Billy Young 2 Harry Hocking 3 Marlen Walker 4 Jack Andrew 5 Josh King 6 Harry Dugmore 7 Will Gibson (captain) 8 Doug Bridge.

Replacements:  *James Lambourn, Jacob Morris, *Toby Osborne, *Archie Pilcher, *Jago Sheppard, John Stevens, Alex Schwarz, Matt McNab, Will Trewin, Ioan Evans, Kyle Moyle, *Will Tanswell.

* – Denotes guest player.