Cornish Pirates at Camborne with a new captain and three debuts

Pre-season is over. Cornish Pirates travel to Camborne on Saturday for their opening friendly of the 2026/27 season, kick-off 2.30pm, and they go into it with a new captain, three players in line for a first appearance in the shirt, and an extraordinarily dry and hot summer of training behind them.

Camborne step into new territory

The Cherry & Whites, to give the home team their primary nickname (the proud and strong club is also historically referred to simply as ‘Town’), won promotion to National One at the end of last season. It will be the first time Camborne have ever played in the third tier of English club rugby.

It is naturally a big step up. It is also one that their coach, former Pirate Tom Kessell, and his team are very much looking forward to.

A new captain, and three in line for a debut

Hugh Bokenham, who has returned to the club from Gloucester and was an impressive Champ winner with Worcester Warriors last season, skippers the team. He will partner Milo Hallam in the second row.

A fellow Aussie associate, Australian 7s player Henry Palmer, is named on the wing.

Three other selected squad members are ready to make their debuts for the Pirates. They are newly signed prop Jamie Clark, who has arrived from Newcastle Red Bulls, GB 7s winger Josh Radcliffe, and Redruth fly-half Joe Cummins.

“You never really know where you are until you get going”

Cornish Pirates joint head coach Gavin Cattle spoke ahead of Saturday’s opener.

“Arriving at this point after a hot pre-season, it’s time we had a game and, as ever, you never really know where you are until you get going. However, what I can say is that I am really pleased how the boys have gone about their work.

“In our block one under strength and conditioning coach Callum Conway, who did a really good job, it went well. The way we designed that was a bit different and I feel we have progressed and are in decent shape, though as always there are just a few boys coming back to fitness following minor operations.”

Gavin also had a word for the opposition.

“Credit must also go to Camborne on their achievements. They have a proud history and coaches who we have a good relationship with, and I think both teams want to see where they are at. We, of course, will strive to win, but the result is not the be all and end all and we’ll just be looking to see if the boys can hold the detail and intensity, and importantly integrate to help us in our endeavours to take things up a notch.”

The full Cornish Pirates selection

Cornish Pirates: 15 Angus Mawson, 14 Arthur Relton, 13 Chester Ribbons, 12 Harry Ascherl, 11 Henry Palmer, 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Dan Hiscocks, 1 Alessandro Heaney, 2 Morgan Nelson, 3 Tyler Gendall, 4 Milo Hallam, 5 Hugh Bokenham (captain), 6 Matt Cannon, 7 Jack Forsythe, 8 Tomiwa Agbongbon.

Replacements: 16 Matt Pritchard, 17 Billy Young, 18 Jamie Clark, 19 Josh King, 20 Barnaby Elderkin, 21 Luke Ratcliff, 22 Sam Cahill (guest), 23 Joe Cummins (guest), 24 Finn Love, 25 Josh Radcliffe, 26 Joe Elderkin.

One caution comes with all of it. Shirt numbers are always likely to change, especially in friendly matches.

📷Credit: Cornish Pirates