In 2005 the Pirates moved away from their home at The Mennaye in Penzance, first to Kenwyn Rugby Ground, near Truro, and then to Camborne Recreation Ground. In examining the options it had been viewed as imperative to increase the support base which led to a difficult decision for Dicky Evans and the supporters of the Pirates, as to whether the team should relocate to another site to play their home matches or not. The questions, concerns and sentiments arising from the proposals were thoroughly debated in the clubhouse and elsewhere. However, on 27 May 2005 at an emergency meeting held in a packed St Johns Hall the innovative plans were passed. They included: Relocating to a new temporary site at Kenwyn, Truro for the 2005–06 season.
He expressed his personal happiness at the support expressed for the move and regarded it as a step towards a Premiership rugby club in Cornwall. Penzance & Newlyn RFC club badge. Joe Beardshaw wins line-out ball for the Pirates against Plymouth Albion Following a highly successful 2005–06 season, (when crowds were increased and the Pirates finished 3rd in Division 1), it was decided to relocate again and over the next two seasons the Cornish Pirates played their home rugby matches at Camborne RFC's recreation ground. [1] Camborne's ground is seen as many to be the best rugby ground in Cornwall boasting a superb grandstand. On 15 April 2007, the Cornish Pirates won the EDF Energy National Trophy at Twickenham for the first time in the club's history, against Exeter Chiefs. The score was 19–16.
[19] ^ a b Ospreys lock James Fender is on a season-long loan for the 2022-23 season. [20] ^ a b Saracens prop Harvey Beaton is on a season-long loan for the 2022-23 season. [21] ^ a b c d e f g h Seven Exeter Chiefs players are dual-registered for the 2022-23 season. [22] Notable former players[edit] Notes[edit] ^ Note that Pirates are missing 3 home attendances out of 13 due to poor media coverage during the 2000–01 season. ^ Note that Pirates are missing 1 home attendance out of 13 during the 2001–02 season. ^ Note that Pirates are missing 6 home attendances out of 13 due to extremely poor media coverage during the 2002–03 season.
Re-branding including changing the club's name to the Cornish Pirates. Upgrading all the facilities at the Mennaye Field which will continue to act as the permanent training base for the Cornish Pirates. The Mennaye to continue to act as the playing home for the Pirates mini and junior sections and Mounts Bay RFC. Following the vote, Dicky Evans told members: "ten years ago I asked you to support me in taking this club into the professional era. At that time there were those were totally against this move, there are people that are against this latest move. However, it is my belief that we must try this venture".
Red background will be relegated. Updated: 15 January 2023 Source: "The Championship". England Rugby. Current squad[edit] The Cornish Pirates squad for the 2022–23 season. [18][a][b][c][d] Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality. Player Union Will Crane Hooker England Morgan Nelson Wales Max Norey [d] Olly Adkins [a] Prop Jack Andrew Harvey Beaton [c] Matt Johnson [d] Hayden King Marlen Walker New Zealand Steele Barker Lock Will Britton James Fender [b] Lewis Pearson [d] Cory Teague [d] Josh Williams Joe Elderkin Back row Alex Everett Will Gibson Jarrad Hayler Seb Nagle-Taylor John Stevens Rusi Tuima [d] Olly White Bear Williams Ruaridh Dawson Scrum-half Scotland Tom Kessell Alex Schwarz Harry Bazelgette Fly-half Arwel Robson Rory Parata Centre Ireland Garyn Smith Shae Tucker Tommy Wyatt [d] AJ Cant Wing Arthur Relton [d] Callum Sirker Robin Wedlake Carwyn Penny Fullback Will Trewin ^ a b Gloucester prop Olly Adkins is on a season-long loan for the 2022-23 season.
In 2009–10 the Pirates won the inaugural British and Irish Cup, beating Munster A 23–14 in the final at the Recreation Ground, Camborne. Pirates remain a solid RFU Championship side, their lowest finish since being 9th in 2015–16, with highs of 3rd in 2010–11 and 2011–12. These 3rd-place finishes resulted in Pirates qualifying for the promotion play-offs. In 2010-11 Pirates beat London Welsh in the semi-final 18–10 at the Mennaye Field before succumbing to Worcester Warriors in the final over two legs, 12–21 at home and 25–20 away, 46–32 on aggregate, resulting in Worcester's promotion back to the Aviva Premiership. The following season the Pirates again won their semi-final, beating Bristol over two legs, 45–24 at home and losing 29–18 away, resulting in a 63–53 win on aggregate. Pirates again however lost in the final, this time to London Welsh, losing 21–37 at the Mennaye and 29–20 away from home, 66–41 on aggregate.
It is hoped that the proposed move back to Truro to the proposed Stadium for Cornwall will see an upturn in the club's fortunes and bring the supporters back. Season Total Average Highest 2000–01[a 1] 11, 400 1, 140 2, 000 2001–02[a 2] 12, 400 1, 127 3, 000 2002–03[a 3] 11, 300 1, 614 2, 200 2003–04[a 4] 19, 810 2, 201 5, 100 2004–05[a 5] 24, 018 2, 002 5, 000 2005–06 36, 194 2, 784 5, 879 2006–07 38, 892 2, 593 5, 365 2007–08 52, 294 3, 486 6, 487 2008–09 44, 739 2, 983 4, 913 2009–10 42, 157 3, 011 5, 654 2010–11 39, 195 2, 450 3, 500 2011–12 36, 932 2, 308 3, 214 2012–13 20, 480 1, 862 2, 954 2013–14 21, 558 1, 797 3, 752 2014–15 16, 270 1, 479 2, 390 2015–16 15, 705 1, 428 2, 340 2016–17 16, 132 1, 467 2, 043 2017–18 16, 715 1, 520 2, 236 2018–19 20, 190 1, 835 2, 963 2019–20[a 6] 14, 372 2, 975 Season summary[edit] League National Cup(s) Other Cup(s) Competition/Level Position Points Play Offs Competition Performance 1987–88 Cornwall/Devon (8) 4th 13 1988–89 7th 10 1989–90 1st (promoted) 1990–91 Western Counties (7) 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 3rd (promoted) 14 1996–97 South West 2 West (6) 1997–98 1st (promoted)[4] 36 1998–99 South West 1 (5) 4th[5] 29 Tetley's Bitter Cup 2nd Round Cornwall Cup Winners 1999–00 1st (promoted)[6] 40 3rd Round 2000–01 National 3 South (4) 3rd 38 Semi-finals[7] 2001–02 49 Powergen Cup 2002–03 National 2 (3) 45 2003–04 National 1 (2) 10th 43[a 7] 6th Round 2004–05 85 2005–06[a 8] 90 Powergen Trophy 6th Round[8] 5th 101 EDF Energy Cup Winners[9] 91 EDF Energy Trophy 4th Round[10] 82 5th Round[11] RFU Championship (2)[a 9] 6th[a 10] 58[a 11] British & Irish Cup RFU Championship (2) 3rd[a 12] 76[a 13] Runners up Pool Stage 3rd[a 14] 74[a 15] Semi-finals 6th[a 16] 52 Quarter-finals 6th 51 8th 9th 55 4th[a 17] 67 59 RFU Championship Cup 2019–20 75.
The Pirates returned to The Mennaye for the 2010–11 season and remain there to date. After the success of the 2006–07 cup win, the hope was that the club's ambition could finally be realised. This hope was hampered by the loss of Viliami Ma'asi and Alberto Di Bernardo (to Leeds), these losses were offset in some degree by the signing of Canadian international scrum half Ed Fairhurst, former England U21 centre Simon Whatling from Worcester and seasoned professional Rob Elloway from Gloucester. At first the results were not good but after the World Cup the team began to pick up and were joined by one of the stars of the tournament Tongan full back; Vunga Lilo. Unfortunately the side couldn't live with the newly relegated Northampton Saints and were unlucky to draw them in the 1st round of the cup, going down 15–3 at home.