Will Gibson to move on

This Sunday’s Cornish Pirates game versus Doncaster Knights will be a last at home for flanker Will Gibson.

Aged 25, the Portsmouth-born but Cornwall raised player who has to date made 78 appearances for the Pirates since arriving in 2021, will soon be departing Cornwall for Australia.

Along with his partner Tara, Will be leaving for ‘Oz’ on New Year’s Eve, whilst plans are already in hand for him to play for Sydney University, who compete in the Shute Shield competition.

Cornish Pirates’ personnel and supporters will be sorry to see Will go, which is a view echoed by joint head coach Alan Paver, who has commented:

“Will now considers it the right time to enjoy a life experience alongside his partner Tara, and it is something he has planned. Before he goes, he will though give everything of himself on the field, because that’s the type of character he is.

“For Will it’s a great opportunity for someone who was very talented and possessed incredible energy when he arrived at the club. He’s been a good jackler, with a bit of a Dave Ward about him, and he is someone who possesses a real sense of the game and how to win ball back.

“Losing John (Stevens) and Al (Alex Everett) to injury early in the season were blows, but Will has certainly stepped up, as he always does, both on and off the field. He has been outstanding and will be missed, but we’ll be watching him and, if he does return, we’ll pull him back in quickly.”