^ Bonus points had been used in National 1 since the 2003–04 season but would not be introduced to the lower leagues until much later. As this was the highest level the Pirates had reached, 2003–04 was the first season the club would experience bonus points. ^ First season that the club would be known as the Cornish Pirates. Prior to this they were Penzance-Newlyn. ^ As part of the extensive league restructuring by the RFU for the 2009–10 season, National 1 was renamed as the RFU Championship. ^ League position is taken from 1st stage only. The 2009–10 RFU Championship was divided into three stages; the Pirates finished 6th during the 1st stage (main league), and then 3rd in their promotion group during the second stage, failing to qualify for the playoff semi-finals.
^ Note that Pirates are missing 3 home attendances out of 13 due to poor media coverage during the 2003–04 season. ^ Note that Pirates are missing 1 home attendance out of 13 during the 2004–05 season. ^ Note that Pirates only played 8 home games (out of 11) during the 2019–20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
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.
History[edit] At the end of the 2004–05 season the Pirates finished in 4th position in National Division 1 which at the time was their highest league position since owner Dicky Evans became president and just three places below Premiership rugby status. 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.
[2] The Stadium For Cornwall has received funding from Cornwall Council, and is now only awaiting £3m of funding from the UK government before construction can begin, which is expected to be provided in Spring 2019. [3] The first stage is planned to have a capacity of 6, 000, which can be expanded to 10, 000 in phase two in the event of the Pirates being promoted. Supporters[edit] A number of promotions at the beginning of the 21st century saw the Pirates rise from south-west regional rugby all of the way up to the second division. The re-brand from Penzance & Newlyn to the Cornish Pirates for the 2005–06 season, along with relocating from Penzance to Truro, meant that the club was not only the highest ranked in the county but also the best supported, having doubled its supporter base in just over five seasons. A further move to Camborne the next season saw attendances continued to flourish, rising to a peak of 3, 011 per game during the 2009–10 season.
[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.
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. 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.
^ Figure is taken from first stage of the 2009–10 RFU Championship. ^ As with the previous season, the 2010–11 RFU Championship was divided into three stages. Pirates finished 3rd in the first stage, then 1st in their promotion group (second stage) to qualify for the playoffs. ^ Figure is taken from first stage of the 2010–11 RFU Championship. ^ Pirates finished 3rd in the first stage, then 2nd in their promotion group (second stage) to qualify for the playoffs. ^ Figure is taken from first stage of the 2011–12 RFU Championship.