Meet the Players Evening 2023

There was welcome early evening sunshine when the Cornish Pirates held their annual ‘Meet the Players’ event at the Mennaye Field on Thursday evening.

The supporters and sponsors present were able to watch the squad in impressive training action before the players lined up at the end to face the main Truro & Penwith College grandstand. PA announcer Phil Westren then took the opportunity to not only officially welcome one and all but to also commend the club’s volunteer ground staff for their efforts, before he next announced the names of new squad members present who in turn each took a step forward and acknowledged everyone with a wave.

Chairman of the Cornish Pirates, Paul Durkin, then addressed the crowd, mentioning the possibility of a Premiership 1 and Premiership 2 in the future. Again, ground criteria expectations would be sought and the ‘Elephant in the room’, as always, was funding, with the raising of funds naturally having high importance.

Speaking next there was a round of applause when Gavin Cattle announced that John Stevens would once again be club captain, plus Gavin advised that despite recruitment being a little late pre-season has gone very well. He commended the players, who have been a ‘brilliant bunch’, but was aware also that there would be testing times ahead, as ever.

Last to speak was Gavin’s fellow joint head coach Alan Paver who, like everyone else, was looking forward to the excitement that the new Premiership Cup games will bring, and the league season that will follow.  He also highlighted the demographic that has changed whereby the squad has been increasingly younger, but with it rewarding to see such players develop and to witness what they can do.

To conclude the evening, hog roast baps were enjoyed as everyone mingled and talked together, with the always supportive Cadgwith Singers also striking up to sing a selection of supporter favourites.

As a reminder the Cornish Pirates play Plymouth Albion at home in a friendly on Saturday 19^th August (ko 2.30pm), and will a week later face the same opposition away (ko 3pm). In the Premiership Cup, the Pirates will welcome the might of Bath Rugby to the Mennaye Field on Friday 8^th September (ko 7.30pm).

For more information on all things Cornish Pirates, please simply visit:

www.cornish-pirates.com