Cornish Pirates Gear Up for League Opener Against Nottingham

Cornish Pirates Travel to Lady Bay for Friday Night Clash

The Cornish Pirates are set to kick off their league campaign this Friday night with an away match against Nottingham at Lady Bay, starting at 7.45pm. After wrapping up their pre-season fixtures, the team is now fully focused on the competitive season ahead.

New Faces in the Squad

Skipper John Stevens, who is captaining the club for the third consecutive season, will lead a side featuring several fresh faces. Scrum-half Cameron Jones and prop James French will be making their first league appearances for the club in the starting XV. Additionally, Matt Cannon, Dan Hiscocks, and Charlie McCaig are poised to make their league debuts should they come off the bench.

Pre-Season Preparations

The team has undergone a rigorous pre-season, with coach Joe Walsh noting the value of the varied levels of competition faced in their three pre-season games. Reflecting on the team’s preparation, Joe said they took a lot away from the match against Exeter Chiefs, using it as a learning opportunity to fine-tune their game. The away trip to Carmarthen Quins also served as a useful rehearsal for managing away fixtures, which will be crucial in their upcoming game against Nottingham.

Strong Line-Up Confirmed

The full line-up for Friday’s match has been announced. In the starting line-up, Bruce Houston will be managing the fly-half position, while Will Trewin takes on fullback duties. John Stevens will lead from number eight, supported by Will Gibson and Alex Everett in the back row.

The replacements bench includes a mix of experience and new talent, ready to make an impact if called upon. Notably, Charlie Rice and Iwan Jenkins are among the substitutes, providing depth to the squad.

Looking Ahead

With the pre-season behind them, the Cornish Pirates are looking to apply their new strategies and build on their preparations as they head into this season opener. Fans will be eagerly watching to see how the team performs with the new additions to the squad and the adjustments made during pre-season.