Louie Tonkin to Leave Cornish Pirates for Ealing Trailfinders Coaching Position

Photo credit: Brian Tempest

The Cornish Pirates have announced the departure of Assistant Coach Louie Tonkin at the season’s end.

Louie is set to join the Ealing Trailfinders, marking a new chapter in his coaching career. This transition comes after Louie’s impactful tenure with the Pirates, a period that began in the wake of Chris Morgan’s move to Worcester Warriors in August 2021.

Louie, a Cornwall native who grew up in Wales, brings a wealth of experience from his playing days as a lock forward, with stints at UWIC RFC, Swansea, Coventry, and Llandovery, to his coaching portfolio. His coaching journey, which saw a significant leap forward with his appointment at the Cornish Pirates, reflects his deep-rooted passion for rugby and dedication to nurturing talent.

Gavin Cattle, the Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach, expressed his gratitude towards Louie for his substantial contributions to the team. “Louie filled big shoes following Chris’s departure and made a massive impact. He will be greatly missed, but we extend our best wishes to him and his wife, Hayley, for their future,” Gavin stated, acknowledging Louie’s role in the team’s development and success.

Louie shared his sentiments on the move, emphasising the difficulty of the decision but also the excitement for the future. “The decision to leave was not easy, but one must consider family and future prospects. The ambition and professionalism at Ealing matched my own, compelling me to take this next step,” Louie explained. He also expressed his gratitude towards Gavin, Alan Paver, and the entire Cornish Pirates community for their support and the opportunities provided to him.

As the Cornish Pirates prepare to bid farewell to Louie, his departure signifies not just an end but also a beginning of a new journey. Both Louie and the Pirates are poised to embrace their futures with optimism and an enduring respect for the time they shared, marking another chapter in the ever-evolving story of rugby union.