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Three more Pirates commit

Posted: May 11, 2022
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Wing Robin Wedlake, Full Back Carwyn Penny and Flanker John Stevens have become the latest three Pirates to commit their futures to the club.

 

First to be announced today was wing Robin Wedlake, who has signed another one-year contract with the club.

Cornishman Robin, aged 27, who was educated at Redruth School and Truro College, is a former Redruth player who signed for Plymouth Albion in 2015.

He was a County Championship winner with Cornwall in both 2015 and 2016 and was also the recipient of Trelawny’s ‘Player of the Year’ trophy in 2017. Other honours include playing for England Counties, whilst he has also represented Exeter Chiefs in the Singha Sevens.

Robin suffered a serious knee injury when playing for Plymouth Albion in a pre-season friendly against the Cornish Pirates in 2017. It was a set-back for the gifted young player, however he recovered well and was keen to take his chance of playing Championship rugby.

Since first signing for the Cornish Pirates ahead of the 2018/19 season, Robin has made 67 appearances and has also scored 33 tries.

Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle has commented:

“It is good news that Cornishman Robin will be with us again for next season. When he first joined the Pirates, he was quick to show the potential to perform well at our level, and he did. However, having said that I still don’t think we have seen the best of him yet.

“Robin has good pace, and particularly strong physically he has that ability to finish. Having scored some fine tries, it is something both he and the team will be looking for more of.”

 

Full-back Carwyn Penny was next to follow and he too has signed another one-year contract.

Aged 23, the Newport-born former Wales under 18s and under 20s player joined the Cornish Pirates ahead of the 2021/22 season, having previously played for Welsh Regional side Dragons Rugby.

Educated at Newport High School and Clifton College (Bristol), Carwyn was a one-time member of the Gloucester Academy. He had also previously played in the Welsh Premiership for Cross Keys, Bargoed, and Ebbw Vale, and, when at Gloucester Academy, for Gloucester Rugby and National Two team Cinderford. As for the Dragons, he made his debut in a European Challenge Cup tie away to Castres in January 2020.

In his first season with the Cornish Pirates, during which he has made 21   appearances, Carwyn has impressed. Joint head coach Gavin Cattle commented:

“In his first season we have seen that Carwyn gives us a good balance at the back. He and AJ (Cant) play 15 and provide good contrast, plus he has the ability to play first receiver to cover 10, which has been a massive asset.

“He can provide a goalkicking option should his services be needed, as we saw when called upon at Bedford last weekend, and still young we see him as another player with growth and development in him to, along with others, take his game up to the next level.”

 

Backrower John Stevens was the last to be announced as signing a one year deal on the day.

Aged 27, Cornishman John is a product of Penzance & Newlyn RFC’s youth section. The youngest son of former Pirate ‘Stack’ Stevens, he first signed for the Cornish Pirates in August 2013 and also then enjoyed developing his game with Redruth.

Frustratingly injured for much of the 2017/18 campaign, on his return to fitness John really made his mark and was selected as a regular starter in a Cornish Pirates shirt.

Skilful and as tough as they come, he continued to impress and by the end of the 2020/21 season had taken his overall games tally for the club to 85.

Proudly named the team’s vice-captain for the 2021/22 campaign, injuries have restricted John to making just another nine appearances. However, back to full fitness it is guaranteed that he will be raring to go when next selected.

Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Alan Paver has commented:

“We are delighted to once again confirm that someone of John’s quality has signed for us.

“His leadership in the squad has been invaluable, despite us sadly not seeing much of him this season because of injury.

“John is also naturally an iconic player in Cornwall, so we are just over the moon with this news.”