Dicky announces ‘sunset plan’

Cornish Pirates owner announces his Sunset Plan to secure a Premiership future

After 27 years Penzance born entrepreneur Dicky Evans announced on Tuesday 15^th March 2022 his three- year “Sunset Plan” to complete his investment in the Cornish Pirates. Under his leadership the Pirates have risen from a Division 7 amateur club to a leading professional Championship team, competing to enter the Premiership.

The Sunset Plan offers a £2.5m funding programme and security for up to three years for the Pirates, allowing a full-time professional side to continue to challenge for the Premiership while a graceful transition to new investors is executed.

Interest is expected to be keen from Cornish and International parties. This is a strong proposition for the right person or people. Pirates have been in two Championship play offs and this season may well win the league. The staff and coaching team at Pirates have an exceptional track record and remain committed to the club. The Stadium has planning permission in perpetuity thanks to Dicky’s investment of £1.3m in design and legals to get to this stable position. With new investors, a strong team and the development of a Stadium to the standards demanded by the RFU, Pirates will have the capacity to enter and remain as a competitive Premiership side.

Players, staff and shareholders were informed of this announcement at a meeting earlier on 15^th March.

Dicky Evans said:

• I have enjoyed every minute of the last 27 years and as we say, “once a Pirate, always a Pirate”. I would never let the team down. This move is my last gift to them, handing on a successful club with a large and loyal fan base, to investors with the will and capacity to see the Pirates into the Premiership, up to the top of that league and into Europe. This is my Sunset Plan, but a new dawn for Pirates.

Paul Durkin, Chairman Cornish Pirates, said:

• Dicky Evans is a home-grown champion without whom Cornish Pirates would not exist. He saved us from bankruptcy and led us up division after division to the very top of the Championship. His tenure will be forever a golden age for Pirates.

Richard “Dicky” Evans, O.G.W^*

International entrepreneur, agri-businessman, hotelier, sportsman and philanthropist, Dicky Evans left the UK as a young man, captained Kenya and East Africa rugby teams, founded, built and sold a substantial flower farm business in Africa, founded the 5* Hemingways Hospitality resort company and for the last 27 years has been the main benefactor of the Cornish Pirates Rugby Club based in Penzance, Cornwall, the town of his birth.

*The Order of the Grand Warrior, Kenya

Cornish Pirates and Truro City

Penzance RFC was formed in 1876 and Newlyn RFC 1895. Penzance & Newlyn RFC amalgamated during the war and played its first match in September, 1945 and became known by their “nom du guerre” The Pirates. Since the 50’s The Pirates have provided players to higher league teams, England and the Lions from “Stack” Stevens to Luke Cowan-Dickie.  In the 1990’s Dicky Evans became the main benefactor and the club rose through the league ranks. In 2019 Dicky extended this to Truro City Football Club. This season, at today, 15^th March 2022, Truro City are ninth of 22 in the Football Premier League South with four games in hand on the leaders; Cornish Pirates are third in the Championship table with 2 games in hand on the leaders.

For media interviews with Mr Evans please contact:

[email protected] +44 (0)7889 601004

For media interviews with Cornish Pirates and Truro City representatives, please contact:

[email protected]  +44 (0)7817 998879

Interested investors should contact Mr Evans’s Chief of Staff:

[email protected] +44 (0)7889 601004