After a four-week break, match action for the Cornish Pirates returns on Friday evening when the Royal Navy will be welcome visitors to the Mennaye Field (ko 7.30pm).

The popular friendly fixture will form part of the Cornish Pirates’ 20^th Anniversary celebrations, when special shirts will be worn by the team and many former star players from the past 20 years will be in attendance. Also please note that the shirts will be auctioned off in the marquee and on-line after the game.

Tickets for the Anniversary game, priced £10 only, are available online until 10am on Friday or can be purchased on the night (the gates open at 5.30pm).

Returned to fitness backrower Alex Everett will captain the Pirates team, and the bench includes several trialists. They are Kiwi hooker Dylan Irvine, young Cornish prop Ben Woodmansey, UK-born lock/flanker Mike Etete, and Irish back Sam Cahill.

Speaking ahead of Friday night, Cornish Pirates’ coach Joe Walsh has commented:

“Following our matches in the Premiership Cup we have indirectly treated the last few weeks as a mini pre-season, plus it has given the opportunity for certain of our players to get back on their feet to fitness.

“It has also given us the chance to revisit various components of our game and sharpen up, and in that regard having those extra bodies back in training does, and will, help enormously.

“Considering Friday’s game, if we can rotate the squad nicely to give everyone a few minutes, then it will give us a better idea as to where some of the guys are when we consider match fitness availability, and who is ready to go, especially in relation to the return of league action the week after against London Scottish.”

Joe also added:

“Back to this Friday we are all looking forward to welcoming the Royal Navy, with whom we have good relations, and at the same time we are excited at the prospect of a return to action, and especially so at home.

“Also, with several of our former stars present on the night, hopefully the Cornish Pirates and the Navy will put on a fully committed show that everyone will enjoy.”

The Cornish Pirates full selection for Friday is as follows:

Cornish Pirates:   15 Iwan Price-Thomas 14 Arthur Relton 13 Matt McNab 12 Charlie McCaig 11 Will Trewin 10 Iwan Jenkins 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Billy Young 2 Sol Moody 3 Ollie Andrews 4 Charlie Rice 5 Josh King 6 Matt Cannon 7 Alex Everett (captain) 8 Tomiwa Agbongbon.

Replacements:   Dylan Irvine, Oisin Michel, James French, Ben Woodmansey, Mike Etete, Alfie Bell, Barnaby Elderkin, Fintan Coleman, Milo Hallam, Cam Jones, Bruce Houston, Chester Ribbons, Sam Cahill, Harry Hocking.

Referee:   Jamie Parr

Assistants:   Iain Kiy & Kevin Williams

Official 4:   Will Williams

Match Day Sponsor:   Yeomans

Match Ball Sponsor:   Crusty Juggler

Match Day Collection:   For the ‘A Band of Brothers Cornwall’ charity