Irish prop French joins the club

A latest new signing for next season confirmed by the Cornish Pirates is prop James French.

Cork-born James, aged 25, who of interest is a former All-Ireland schoolboy shot put champion, attended Bandon Grammar School and began playing rugby as a centre, before transitioning to the back-row, and, finally, to prop.

Selected and competing for Ireland in the 2018 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, in the same year James joined the Munster academy before being promoted to the senior squad on a one-year contract ahead of the 2021-22 season. He made his senior competitive debut away to Wasps in the Champions Cup and then, after signing a two-year contract extension in January 2022, had the opportunity to next sign for Ulster, from where he joins the Cornish Pirates.

Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Alan Paver, who is looking forward to working with James, has commented:

“James has a great profile and although still a young man has been in some top-class environments.

“A player who has a chance to be a frontrunner week in and week out, because of the growth still left in him, and because of our experience in helping push on such gifted young players, we are very much looking forward to getting James in and to get him up and running.”