More Pirates commit for 22/23

Winger Callum Sirker joins Hayden King, Alex Schwarz and Bear Williams in signing a new deal for 2022-23, as we take our retained player tally to 17.

Aged 24 and in his first season in Cornwall, Sirker made 18 appearances, with the potent finisher scoring an impressive tally of 10 tries.

Hammersmith-born Callum started his rugby at minis level with Teddington. He later moved to Richmond, was in the Wasps Academy, and played for England at under 16s level. In June 2016 he joined England 7s from school and in April 2017 he made his HSBC World Sevens Series debut at the Hong Kong Sevens

Re-joining Wasps in July 2018 as a Senior Academy player, Callum was an outstanding performer in both the 2018 and 2019 Premiership Sevens and in the 2018/19 Premiership Shield competition. Indeed, his try-scoring performances earned him promotion to the Wasps’ senior squad for the 2019/20 season.

In September 2019, he made his first team debut for Wasps in a Premiership Cup encounter against Saracens, in which he also scored. Then loaned to Ampthill to aid his development, he picked up a serious knee injury in his very first game, away to Ealing Trailfinders. A lengthy spell out followed, but on return to fitness he in the latter part of the 2020/21 season marked his Wasps comeback with a hat trick in an ‘A’ Team friendly against London Irish.

Callum has also served short loan periods with Richmond, Nottingham and, in 2020/21, Coventry.

With reference to Callum once again signing, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle has said:

“Callum is, as we have seen, a potent finisher – someone with the ability to score those special tries.

“Like all players there are naturally areas of his game to work on, and with further development he’ll become a still better player.”

Hayden King

The Cornish Pirates confirmed last week that prop Hayden King was the next squad member to re-sign for next season on a one-year contract.

Hertfordshire-born Hayden, now aged 26, joined the Pirates ahead of the 2019/20 season and has since made 22 appearances.

Having first played rugby aged just six at Old Albanians RFC (St. Albans), he represented Hertfordshire through the age groups, and later the senior county side. Extra acquired honours would also see him play for London South-East U18s & U20s and then England Counties at both under 20s and senior level.

Besides Old Albanians, Hayden has played for Blackheath (2017-2018), and Bedford Blues (2018-2019), from where he joined the Cornish Pirates.

Commenting reference Hayden once again signing, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Alan Paver has said:

“During his relatively short time with the Pirates, Hayden has shown massive promise on the pitch. A serious neck injury suffered early this season was an unfortunate setback, however he recovered amazing well and we are very pleased that he has signed again.

”Hayden is another player for the future, who also now provides another bonus whereby he can nowadays play on both sides of the scrum. Because we don’t carry too many front-rowers, for us, this is a real benefit.”

Alex Schwarz

It was also confirmed last week that scrum-half Alex Schwarz has signed a new one year contract. Now aged 29, he has to date made 60 appearances for the club.

It was in early May 2018 that the Bodelwyddan-born North Walian number ‘9’ joined the Cornish Pirates from RGC – Rygbi Gogledd Cymru -who competed in Wales’ Principality Premiership.

Alex played his early rugby at Mold Rugby Club and then represented RGC from under 12s to under 18s. He also played Wales under 18s, winning caps against France, Scotland and Japan, and has in the past played for Italian side Rugby Colorno. Also, in early 2021, he had a brief loan spell from the Cornish Pirates to Wasps.

Pleased to acquire Alex’s signature once again, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle has commented:

“There is good competition for the ‘9’ shirt and Alex certainly put his hand up in the mid and late period of the 2021/22 campaign.

“We know he is quick to the breakdown, does the basics well, and has a good kick game, so he’ll now be looking to stay injury-free and enjoy a good next season.”

Bear Williams

Cornish Pirates backrower Bear Williams, is another to have put pen to paper on a new one year deal.

During this past season, which was one disrupted by injury, besides making two appearances for the Pirates the 21-year-old also enjoyed important development time playing for Redruth.

Paddington-born, Bear first played rugby as a nine-year-old at Pulborough rugby club, after his family had moved from South London to West Sussex. Educated at Cranleigh school in Surrey, he was a Harlequins Academy member until the age of 15, has played for Rosslyn Park and, for a short stint, for Marist St. Pats RFC in Wellington, New Zealand.

Speaking highly of Bear, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Alan Paver has said:

“We are really pleased that such a dedicated young man as Bear has signed for again.

“Bear’s name was put in front of us by our former colleague and Director of Rugby, Ian Davies, who knew him and said he was a good young man looking for an opportunity.

“Besides training with us and appearing in a couple of matches, Bear has had some rugby time at Redruth. Real development in his game has been noted, as has what he brings to our environment.”