Pirates at The Ready For 2020!

Bodies and minds relaxed following their Christmas and New Year break, an opening game for the Cornish Pirates in 2020 is a Greene King IPA Championship Round 8 fixture at home to Yorkshire Carnegie on Sunday (ko 2.30pm).

The teams have already met twice this season, both matches played in the Championship Cup. In September the Pirates won 48-0 away, whilst more recently, in December, they won 54-5 at home.

The Pirates will be keen to achieve a victory to hold on to second place in the league, however nothing will be taken for granted, especially against a team where former Welsh international and former Namibian Head Coach Phil Davies has made a return as Director of Rugby.

Named in the Cornish Pirates starting line-up for their New Year opener is full-back Kyle Moyle who, following his lengthy time out because of injury, featured off the bench against Hartpury before Christmas. Another replacement in that match, fully fit again flanker John Stevens, has also been named in the starting XV, plus there is a return for wing AJ Cant.

Arriving back at the Mennaye Field this week on dual registration with Exeter Chiefs, lock Josh Caulfield is ready to make his first Championship appearance of the season, whilst listed among the replacements is Shae Tucker who will be keen to make what would be his first appearance in the Championship.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s game, coach Gavin Cattle has commented:

Presently second in the league, which is where we wanted to be at Christmas, our challenge now is to push on over the next couple of months.

As for Sunday, following Yorkshire Carnegie’s appointment of Phil Davies we are expecting an emotional reaction, which is often the case. Also, having shown a lot of spirit in recent games, they cannot be taken lightly and will be no pushover, so we will need to be on our mettle.

Match Day Sponsor:   Smile Together Dental CIC

Tickets for the game (ko 2.30pm) will be available at the gates on the day (open 12.30pm), whilst they can also be purchased on-line. For further information please visit:

www.cornish-pirates.com/tickets