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Coaching Conference is fast approaching

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Future proof your coaching – Get game ready for the season ahead

📍 Truro School | 🗓 Saturday 12th July | ⏰ 9.30am through to 2.30pm

Coach Centered Ltd are again delighted to partner which Cornwall RFU at Truro School on Saturday 12th July where our high-performance coaches, come together to share insight, challenge norms, and elevate your coaching craft.

Take this opportunity to accelerate your learning and ready yourself for the new season, with clear game strategies and coaching ideas to take your players to the next level.

Ask yourself?

• What’s your team’s mindset, strategy, and skillset to cash in on turnovers?

• How well do your players understand the principles of phase defence — and how does this differ based on pitch geography and ruck location?

• How are you recognising learning, adapting session progression, and using tools that truly create decision-makers?

If these questions spark curiosity or challenge your current thinking, then you’re exactly the kind of coach this conference is built for.

This isn’t just another CPD event — it’s a catalyst for real change in how we coach and how your players perform.

Ready to challenge yourself, connect with like-minded coaches, and leave with practical tools to transform your coaching?

👉 Register now www.coachcentered.com/coach-development/#CornwallConference

Notice – C.R.F.U. A.G.M.

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Notice is hearby given that the 2025 CRFU AGM will be held on Wednesday 25th June 7 pm at Camborne RFC.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Jane Bell

CRFU Hon. Secretary

South West Leagues presentations

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David McAteer and Denis Preece from the South West Regional Organising Committee joined us at Redruth RFC on the occassion of the Bill Beaumont Cup match against Kent to make the presentations to the variius Cornish League Champions.

TRIBUTE COUNTIES 1 SOUTH WEST

PIRATES AMATEURS RFC

TRIBUTE COUNTIES 2 CORNWALL

SALTASH RFC

TRIBUTE COUNTIES 3 CORNWALL

CAMBORNE CRUSADERS

COUNTIES CORNWALL LEAGUE 3 PLATE

LANKELLY-FOWEY RFC

GOLDSWORTHY CUP & ALAN BARBARY CUP WINNERS

SALTASH RFC

Roger Watson R.I.P.

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It is with great sadness that the CRFU learned today of the passing of our former Honorary Secretary Roger Watson.

Roger’s passion for Cornish rugby was demonstrated by the many roles he undertook in the game.

As well as afforded Life Membership by his club Redruth RFC, he was also made a Life Member by Trelawny’s Army Supporter’s club

Our thoughts are with Nikki and all the family at this sad time.

The following appeared on Redruth RFC’s website earlier today;

Roger held many roles in his service to the game. Roger was the first Honorary Secretary of Trelawny’s Army Supporters Club and in 1994 Honorary Secretary of Cornwall Schools (16 Group) and sat on the CRFU Committee. From 2001 to 2014 Roger was the Honorary Secretary to Redruth RFC and travelled the length and breadth of the country in support of the Reds. In recognition of his service to the club, Roger was awarded Life Membership. In 2015 Roger became Honorary Secretary to the CRFU and held this position until 2018 whilst also holding the position of Secretary to Cornwall’s Disciplinary Committee. Soon after Roger and Nikki, along with their son Rawlyn moved to the Rhymney Valley in South Wales to be closer to their daughter Esyld and young Granddaughter Isla. Roger continued to love the game and was still attending matches locally last season.

Funeral details will be posted when available.

Cornwall Women win Tamar Cup

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A stirring second half performance saw Cornwall Women overturn a ten point half-time deficit to win the inaugural Women’s Tamar Cup 31-27 at Polson Bridge.

Devon’s two bonus points from the game were enough to confirm them as group winners and progression to the semi-finals.

Match report below

GILL BURNS CUP DIVISION 2

CORNWALL WOMEN 31 – 27 DEVON WOMEN

By Bill Hooper at Polson Bridge.

On a glorious afternoon at Polson Bridge both sides served up a feast of attacking rugby for the four figure crowd.

For Cornwall the spoils of the game and with it the Tamar Cup that captain Amy Bunt proudly lifted in front of the grandstand.

Devon too had much to celebrate, two bonus points from the game enough to see them top the group and advance to the semi-finals.

Devon kicked off towards the Devon end and immediately put Cornwall under pressure.

Cornwall defended well but gave away too many penalties, eventually the Devon pressure told when the ball was worked wide to wing Charleigh Hopkin to dot down.

Player of the match Michaella Roberts (Ivybridge) of Cornwall Women is tackled by Enya Surtees (Cullompton) of Devon Women.. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo

Having missed the conversion Devon’s Beth Plumpton kicked a routine penalty from in front of the posts to stretch their lead.

Cornwall needed to get into the game, Abi Smith sounded the charge with a good run, the first of many. Cornwall kicked a penalty to the corner from which scrum-half Amy Warman fed Michaella Roberts, the No.8 used her strength to power over for a try bettered by Georgia Hall.

Roberts was again involved when Cornwall took the lead, she linked with Smith who’s pass found Bunt who scored an unconverted try in the corner.

Smith then showed her defensive qualities with a crunching tackle on a Devon player that left her square on her back!

Georgia Hall (Penryn) of Cornwall Women on the attack. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo.

The threat from Devon on the wings was still there and when the ball reached Issy Edworthy the Okehampton wing showed her speed to outpace the cover and score under the sticks allowing Plumpton a simple conversion.

Despite losing No.8 Megan Heath to a yellow card Devon scored again before half-time through the impressive Edworthy, Plumpton’s extras giving the visitors a 22-12 lead at half-time.

The break allowed the Cornwall Women’s team from 1994 to parade around the ground, players that Cornwall head coach Jo Holden described as “true pioneers who laid the foundations for what we have now.”

Izzy Burrows (Truro) of Cornwall Women on the attack. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo.

Cornwall came out for the second half in determined mood. An early try-scoring chance just failed to go to hand with line beckoning.

The Cornish forwards through Roberts, Kim Upcott and Izzy Burrows were making ground.

A quick tap penalty from Warman near the Devon line led to Meg Okey charging over near the posts allowing Hall the conversion.

Amy Warman (Launceston) of Cornwall Women throws a pass. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo – 01/06/25.

Just as Cornwall had Devon in their sights a moment of lapse concentration allowed Edworthy to escape the clutches to score her third try.

With both sides turning to their respective benches, it was Cornwall who finished the stronger. Leading by example Bunt shrugged off a tackle to score in the corner to bring Cornwall to within three points.

Abigail Smith (Launceston) of Cornwall Women hands off the tackle from Issy Edworthy (Okehampton) of Devon Women. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo.

Devon then lost Plumpton to a yellow card as Cornwall now pressed hard.

The winning score came from another quick tap penalty from Warman who found Smith who scored near the posts, Hall’s conversion completed the scoring as Cornwall saw out the game.

Cornwall Women celebrate with the 1994 Cornwall Women’s team. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo.

Speaking after the match head coach Jo Holden said. “They put everything out there today I am so proud of each and every one of them.

“Winning the Tamar Cup is a huge milestone for us as we strive to improve each season, this is a very good Devon side we beat today. I can’t wait for next season and where it can take us as a group.”

Cornwall Women (Launceston unless mentioned): Amy Bunt (Ivybridge, Capt), Tia Larson (Bude), Abigail Smith, Georgia Hall (Penryn), Lisa Allin (Bude), Meg Okey (Ivybridge), Amy Warman; Libbie Cole, Teigan Aitkin (Penryn), Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold, Rhiannon Thomas, Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Izzy Burrows (Truro), Michaella Roberts (Ivybridge).

Replacements: Janna Arnold, Jessica Varker (Helston), Josie Ninnis, Vinnie James (Bude), Nicole Rowland (Ivybridge), Faith Rowe (Camborne), Lydia Hawkins (Falmouth).

Cornwall scores: Tries Roberts 19, Bunt 24, 56, Okey 52, Smith 74, Cons, Hall 20, 53, 75

Referee: Rob Lowe (Plymouth RRS)

Crowd: 1,054

Cornwall Star Player: Michaella Roberts

Cornwall finish on a high

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BILL BEAUMONT CUP

HAMPSHIRE 32 – 41 CORNWALL

By Bill Hooper

Cornwall travelled to Havant looking to finish their programme on a high following the defeat to Kent last Saturday.

In the event both sides looked to serve up some running rugby to royally entertain the crowd. Cornwall’s second half performance saw them build up a good lead and see off a late Hampshire revival.

It was the homeside who scored first, a cross-field kick from fly-half Lewis Dennett found wing Jack Phillips who crossed in the corner.

Jack Counter (Wadebridge) of Cornwall slips the tackle by Alex Mawdsley (Winchester) of Hampshire. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo.

Cornwall eventually responded when Matt Shepherd made a good break feeding wing Harry Larkins for an unconverted try.

Cornwall were falling foul of the referee as the penalty count against them mounted, it was no surprise that Hampshire re-took the lead when prop Dan Sargent crashed over.

Pat Walton (Barnes) of Cornwall dives over for a try. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo – 31/05/25.

Shepherd was again involved in Pat Walton’s try and this time he added the extras.  Good play from Shepherd and Jordan Nicholls set up Jack Counter for Cornwall’s third try.

Nicholls was constantly looking to jackal the ball at the breakdown.

Jordan Nicholls (Camborne) of Cornwall is tackled by Karter Whittock (Petersfield) of Hampshire. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo – 31/05/25.

Hampshire levelled the scores before the break when Phillips bagged his second try which was bettered by Dennett.

Hampshire made the better start to the second half, a good run from wing Jack Colbourne led to a Hampshire penalty from which hooker Cam Boa scored.

Cornwall now began to get the upper-hand. Tom Cowan-Dickie took a quick tap from 5 meters out which led to a Dan Rutter try under the posts, with Shepherd adding the conversion.

Matt Shepherd (St Austell) Captain of Cornwall runs in a try. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo – 31/05/25.

Rutter then kicked a fine 50/22 which set up Shepherd for a try that he bettered. It was then the turn of Ben Hancock to get on the scoresheet with Shepherd’s conversion Cornwall led 38-22.

Luke Barnes thought he had scored but the referee ruled it out. Shepherd added a penalty as Hampshire scored two late tries through Phillips and Sargent, but Cornwall had enough in hand to see out the game.  

Cornwall: Matt Shepherd (St. Austell, Capt), Harry Larkins (Camborne), Ben Plummer (St. Austell), Sam James (Redruth), Jack Counter (Wadebridge C), Dan Rutter (Redruth), CJ Boyce (Camborne); Luke Barnes, Tom Cowan-Dickie (both Redruth), Sam Rodman (Camborne), Dan Goldsmith (Launceston), Pat Walton (Barnes), Adam Hughes, Jordan Nicholls (both Camborne), Hugo Culverhouse (Tonbridge J).

Replacements: Pete Harris, Matt Boothby (both St. Austell), Rohan Ewels (Falmouth), Ben Hancock (Bude), Brandon Rowley (Launceston), Adam Powell (St. Austell), Will Hennessy (Camborne), Archie Bees (St. Austell).

Cornwall scores, Tries, Larkins 13, Walton 20, Counter 22, Rutter 46, Shepherd 52, Hancock 58, Cons, Shepherd 21, 47, 53, 59, Pen, Shepherd 68

Cornwall Women name team for Tamar Cup clash

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SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨

Our 23 are READY for battle! 🖤💛

Cornwall Women take on Devon this Sunday at Polson Bridge in a massive clash that’s about more than just points. It’s pride, progression, and the inaugural Women’s Tamar Cup on the line 🏆🔥

With a place in the Gill Burns Cup semi-finals at stake, this one promises to be a cracker. You won’t want to miss it!

📅 Sunday, June 1

📍 Polson Bridge, Launceston

🕑 Kick-off: 2:00 PM

🎟 Be loud. Be proud. Be there.

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