Rugby Football Union
Tonight at our Cornwall RFU AGM. Kevin Thomas Chair of Representative Rugby Announced The Following Fixture.
“We are delighted to support Camborne RFC in their 150th year celebrations”.
The Barbarian FC are heading to Cornwall.
Tanya Thomas has been instrumental in attaining this fixture in what has been over 20 months in development.
She will continue to lead on this exciting event on behalf of the CRFU. What an opportunity to showcase Cornish rugby at its best.
Please note the details above regarding our AGM next month at Camborne RFC 7 pm start.
Jane Bell
Hon. Sec CRFU
We’ve got a big summer of coach development ahead, with several opportunities designed to support the continuous growth of your coaches — because when we invest in coaches, we invest in players.
These sessions are real opportunities to strengthen your club’s future, so please make the most of them.
XV Aside Coaching Performance Day – Saturday 11 July Featuring guest coaches Ricky Pellow & Joe Walsh. A high‑quality practical day for coaches at all levels. 
Book here: https://www.coachcentered.com/shop/p/saturday-11th-july-cornwall-xv-aside-coaching-performance-day
Recruiting, Deploying & Developing Coaches Workshop – Monday 3 August, 7pm (St Austell) Our first workshop in Cornwall focused on building and sustaining a strong coaching workforce.
England Rugby Learning – RFU Transition Briefings The RFU are transitioning to the new England Rugby Learning platform this summer. This will change how coaches, referees and volunteers access learning.
Please share these briefing sessions with your teams:
• 06 July – 7pm
• 07 July – 6pm
• 08 July – 7pm
• 13 July – 7pm
• 14 July – 12:30pm
• 15 July – 12:30pm
• 15 July – 6:30pm
All session links are available via the RFU Teams events pages.
Let’s continue building strong, confident and well supported coaches across Cornwall. Please share with your club coaching teams.
Daubroy Delahunty
CRFU Game Development
Chair Steve Murley formally welcomed Mark Headland onto the CRFU Management Board at our meeting held this week.
Mark is pictured with Steve receiving his CRFU tie.
Mark will be lead contact regarding Facilities.
Congratulations Mark.
| View in browser News | Tickets | Store |
 |
 |
| THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS – A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO As another busy and exciting community rugby season comes to a close, Bill Sweeney, RFU CEO, wanted to take a moment to say thank you for everything you have done to deliver the game. 1. IMPORTANT UPDATES Player registration season switchover information Ahead of the season switchover for 26/27, scheduled for 1 July, check out all the key information you need to know, including when and how you’ll receive registration information, as well as key technology changes that are streamlining the process. England Rugby Learning – Upcoming technology changes We’re introducing a major upgrade to how we support coaches, match officials and volunteers to complete essential training, access resources, and continually refresh their knowledge and skills. Learn about it in this section. Age Grade Regulation 15 – What’s changing With over 600 survey responses and many conversations with clubs, schools, colleges and partner organisations, the community game has been integral to upcoming Regulation 15 changes. Find out more about the changes and the planned implementation of them in this piece. National Schools Finals, ACE Girls play-offs & Rosslyn Park dates 2027 We want to make you aware of some changes to the age grade calendar pre-Easter in 2027 that rebalances the Age Grade Playing Calendar for the benefit of the whole game at that time. Age Grade Summer Activity Plan – July Age Grade activity in the off season needs to be in line with the Summer Activity Plan, shared last month. Check out the plan for July in this section. READ ONLINE > |
 |
| 2. ACTION IF OF INTEREST Share your views on the Gill Burns Women’s County Championship The County Championship Management Committee is inviting players, coaches, volunteers, and supporters to share their views on the Gill Burns Women’s County Championship. Help shape the future of the competition in this section. Cut costs. Strengthen operations. Keep more money in your club. With nearly £2m in purchasing spend reviewed and over £68,000 in confirmed annual savings already delivered, participating clubs are achieving significant savings across key purchasing categories. Find out how you can get involved with One Club in this piece. Upcoming webinars and support available for your club! Find details and registration information for our upcoming webinars and wider support your club can access and benefit from here. |
|
| 3. FOR AWARENESS County Championship Finals The 2026 England County Championships came to an end last weekend with seven fantastic finals played at the Allianz Stadium. Huge congratulations to all the teams that made it to the finals and for showcasing the very best of county representative rugby. Rugby family breaks IPF fundraising record for injured players 12 community rugby teams came together at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, to raise a record-breaking £153,000 for players supported by the RFU Injured Players Foundation (IPF), England Rugby’s official charity. Community News – monthly round-up Read this month’s round-up of the best community rugby stories – and find out how to submit your own story. READ ONLINE > |
|
Bill Beaumont County Championship Division One Final
Lancashire 24 Cornwall 39
Gareth Davies, at Allianz Twickenham Stadium
Cornwall claimed their eighth County Championship crown with a hard-fought five try win over a spirited Lancashire outfit at Twickenham.
This victory, coupled with Cornwall Women defeating Durham earlier in the day, completed an
historic double for the Duchy, at the home of English rugby.
Cornwall were overwhelming favourites going into the final after a huge semi-final aggregate win
over Kent, but they were made to work hard by a Lancashire side who were very much in the
game until the final 20 minutes.
Tries inside the final quarter from Josh Matavesi and Max Bodily ensured the Bill Beaumont
crown headed west once more, with Lancashire’s brave resistance finally broken by two of
Cornwall’s stand-out performers.
Black and gold coach Graham Dawe made three changes from the side which overwhelmed
Kent 56-19 in the second of two semi-final legs seven days previously. All the alterations came
in the pack too as Jack Andrew started in place of the injured Archie Rolls.
Tyler Gendall came in for his first County Championship start of 2026 as Sam Rodman was
named on the bench. And in the engine room, Redruth’s Edd Pascoe returned after Royal Navy
commitments with Camborne’s Jago Sheppard one of six forward replacements.
Looking to emulate the magnificent feat of the Cornwall women’s team just a few hours earlier,
Dawe’s charges fell behind inside the first 90 seconds when a ruck infringement was punished by Lancashire captain Chris Johnson.
The Heath veteran, playing in his eighth showpiece final, kicked a long-range penalty to open
the scoring. However, Lancashire’s advance on the scoreboard was tempered by an early injury
to Fylde centre Jordan Dorrington, who slipped into a legal Matt Shepherd tackle and was
carried off.
That narrow Red Rose advantage didn’t last long as with Cornwall’s first assault on their line,
Shaun Buzza went over and Kyle Moyle converted.
Lancashire responded well to conceding the game’s first try and they duly opened their five-
point account in the 11th minute through hooker Jack Ellam. The extras were knocked over by
Johnson and Cornwall were behind.
Two tries in three minutes then underlined Cornwall’s attacking prowess as both Alex Ducker
and then Moyle crossed the whitewash.
Moyle, the former Gloucester and Cornish Pirates full-back, chimed into the three-quarter line to
feed Ducker who showed magnificent footwork to sit two would-be Lancashire defenders down
to score near the posts. Moyle added the extras and almost from the restart, Cornwall struck
again.
A scrum in the centre of field after the ball struck the referee saw Cornwall execute a training
ground move with perfection. Josh Mataevesi’s short delayed pass found Dean Wills and then
Shepherd with Moyle supporting to dot down.
Another seven-point score was registered and at that point Cornwall threatened to run riot but
once again huge credit must go to Lancashire as they dug in magnificently.
So much so that Moyle opted to kick for goal from a penalty inside the Lancashire half as the
interval approached to stretch the score out to 24-10 in Cornwall’s favour.
Lancashire would ensure that Cornwall’s lead would be down to single figures at the turnaround
when powerhouse flanker Ashton Kassam-Sharples scored and Johnson converted.
After the interval, Cornwall nerves would have started to jangle when Lancashire levelled up the
game when full-back Sam Freeman burrowed his way over from close range for his side’s third
converted try of the afternoon.
Freeman’s score came on the back of a penalty advantage for the Red Rose side which also
resulted in Josh Matavesi being shown a yellow card.
At 24-24 and with Cornwall losing one of their many talismen, Lancashire hopes were raised
that they could secure an against all odds triumph.
Moyle kicked a fine penalty from just inside the Lancashire half to edge Cornwall back in front
before the game changing moment arrived in the 53rd minute. Lancashire’s Tom Ailes broke
through the Cornwall defence and his brilliant offload was snared by replacement Matt Bradley.
The Sale scrum-half dived for the line and he slid over, only to be denied by a truly remarkable
try-saver from Wills. Held up was referee Tom Evans-Jones’ call and from the subsequent
restart, Sam Matavesi delivered a captain’s knock to win a penalty and the momentum swung
towards the Black and Gold.
Back from his 10 minutes on the sideline, Josh Matavesi then increased Cornwall’s lead with a
powerful run off the back of an attacking line-out. The former Bath and Newcastle man reached
out to place the ball on the whitewash and despite strong Lancashire protests, which led to
handbags between the two sides, the try was awarded and Moyle converted.
Some real breathing space for Cornwall, who suffocated the Lancashire attack and despite the
Red Rose outfit having a sustained spell of possession and multiple phases, they were nullified.
With 10 minutes to go, another fine backs move resulted in Bodily cutting a superb line to score
a fifth Cornwall try. The conversion was missed as Moyle recorded the only blot on his personal
copybook from the tee.
Ben Priddey thought he had extended Cornwall’s lead further as the clock approached 80
minutes but the referee, in consultation with one of his tough judges, ruled that the Camborne
try scoring machine had knocked on.
It was the final noteworthy action of the match and when the final whistle sounded, despite
heavy rain falling under gloomy London skies, a second side in black and gold had triumphed at
headquarters, in what turned out to be a truly landmark day for Cornish rugby.
Cornwall (Camborne, unless stated): Kyle Moyle, Matt Shepherd (St. Austell), Max Bodilly (London Welsh), Josh Matavesi, Alex Ducker, Dean Wills (Redruth), CJ Boyce; Tyler Gendall, Tom Cowan-Dickie (both Redruth), Sam Rodman, Mawgan Osborne, Edd Pascoe (both Redruth), Shaun Buzza, Sam Matavesi (Capt), Herbie Stupple.
Replacements: Declan Prowse (Penzance & Newlyn), Jack Andrew, Jago Sheppard, Ben Hancock (Launceston), Jordan Nicholls, Will Hennessy, Harry Larkins, Ben Priddey.
Tries: Buzza (5), Ducker (14), Moyle (17), J Matavesi (60), Bodily (70). Pens: Moyle 2/2. Cons:
Moyle 4/5
Lancashire: Sam Freeman, Owain Williams (both Preston Grasshoppers), Jordan Dorrington, Tom Forster, Leo Gililand (all Fylde), Chris Johnson (Capt, Heath), Matt Sturgess (Sedgley Park), Corey Bowker (Fylde), Jack Ellam (Sedgley Park), Sam Kyle-Clay (Preston Grasshoppers), Ben Walton, Matt Garrod (both Fylde), Issac Deans (Sedgley Park), Ashton Kassam-Sharples (Fylde), Tom Ailes (Preston Grasshoppers).
Reps: Freddie Deeks (Fylde), Daniel Birchall (Sale FC), Chris Rudkin, Mike Walton (both Fylde), Hugo Castle (Presto Grasshoppers), Alex Clayton (Fylde), Matt Bradley (Sale FC), Jacob Browne (Preston Grasshoppers).
Tries: Ellam (11), Kassam-Sharples (36), Freeman (44). Pens: Johnson 1/1. Cons: 3/3
Referee: Tom Evans-Jones (RFU)
Gill Burns County Championship Division Two Final
Durham 27 Cornwall 46
By Gareth Davies at Allianz Twickenham Stadium
Cornwall Women made history on the biggest stage of all by securing the Gill Burns Division
Two County Championship, with a thrilling win over Durham.
In their maiden appearance at rugby union’s headquarters, Jo Holden’s side thwarted a late
Durham comeback to prevail, thanks in no small part to a brace of tries from player of the match
Michaela Roberts and Penryn flyer Abby Masquelier.
Kim Upcott, Jesse Humber and Faith Rowe also crossed the whitewash for Cornwall, with Tori
Crutchley kicking two conversions and replacement Georgia Hall successful once from the tee.
Durham, who were blown away by Cornwall either side of the break, scored three times in nine
second half minutes when Roberts was in the bin, but Cornwall found another gear and Rowe’s
try, coupled with Masquelier’s second in stoppage time, secured a famous Duchy triumph.
Cornwall named an unchanged back division after their narrow sem-final win over North
Midlands six days previously. However, black and gold chief Holden opted for two chances in
the pack as Roberts and Jesse Humber replaced Caitlin Milliken and Rosie Ninnis, who were
named on a strong replacement bench.
In front of a passionate and partisan travelling support, Cornwall fell behind inside the first 10
minutes when Kathyrn Barrett crossed for Durham, the Bishop Auckland centre powering
through the black and gold rearguard.
But it was a lead that was wiped out almost instantly when flying winger Hannah Mills, after both
Cornwall’s scrum and line-out overpowered Durham’s, crossed in the corner.
With neither Crutchley or Durham’s Sabrina McCann able to convert, the game was locked at 5-
5.
Durham then led again in the 15th minute when Barrett’s centre partner and captain Jess
Clabby matched the former’s feat and this time McCann added on the extras.
The score would remain 12-5 in Durham’s favour until the 26th minute when Roberts, who had
been effective at punching holes in the North East outfit’s defence, bagged Cornwall’s second
unconverted try.
Just as the game at North Midlands hinged on back-to-back Cornish tries, lightning struck twice
in the capital.
Firstly Kim Upcott dotted down from close range before Roberts cut a magnificent running line
just inside her own half to race over 50 metres to score.
Crutchley converted both tries and Cornwall, in less than 10 minutes, had turned the game on
its head to lead 24-12.
Twelve points was the margin Cornwall took into the interval and they stretched their lead
further seven minutes after the restart when Humber acrobatically placed the ball down close to
the right corner flag. Initially it appeared that referee Chrissy Clark ruled a foot in touch, but after
consultation with one of her assistants, the try was awarded.
Hall, who came on to replace Crutchley, couldn’t convert before the pendulum firmly swung
Cornwall’s way.
Durham replacement Molly Ditchburn was shown yellow in the 50th minute and Cornwall took
advantage through speedster Masquelier.
Cornwall, and their huge band of travelling fans, might have thought it was game over at that
point but Durham had other ideas.
Aided by Roberts’ 10-minute sabbatical, Durham rallied and they camped inside the Cornwall
22, scoring three times.
Firstly replacement Hollie Mountain gave Durham a glimmer of hope before the twin Graham
sisters Daisy and reduced the Cornwall lead to just seven points.
Champion sides rarely fall over the line and Cornwall, with Roberts back on the field,
demonstrated all the credentials of a titleholder elect by scoring twice inside the last five
minutes.
Durham, it appeared, just ran out of steam whilst Cornwall cranked up the pressure one last
time. Truro’s Rowe put Cornwall within touching distance after a close-range, converted score.
The icing was then put on the Duchy’s cake in stoppage time when yet more individual brilliance
from Masquelier ensured black and gold ruled at Twickenham in a women’s fixture for the
first time ever.
Cornwall Women (Launceston unless stated): Rachel Hicks, Suz Franks, Abigail Smith, Tori Crutchley (Truro), Hannah Mills (Ivybridge), Faith Rowe (Truro), Amy Warman; Libbie Cole, Jenna Arnold, Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold (Capt), Jessie Humber (Ivybridge), Alex Hutchings, Elizabeth Langton (Ivybridge), Michaella Roberts (Ivybridge).
Replacements: Jessica Varker (Helston), Zeta Penrose (Truro), Rhiannon Thomas, Caitlin Milliken (Camborne), Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Georgia Hall (Penryn), Evie Groves (Truro), Abby Masquelier (Penryn).
Tries: Mills 12, Roberts 26, 33, Upcott 31, Humber 47, Masquelier 56, 80, Rowe 76. Cons, Crutcley 32, 34, Hall 77
Durham Women: Sabrina McCann (Bishop Auckland), Georgia Massey (Bishop Auckland), Kathryn Barrett (Bishop Auckland), Jess Clabby (Capt, Ryton), Daisy Graham (Houghton), Neve Kinghorn, Leonie Kinghorn (both Stockton), Kenzie Burnside (Houghton), Tamsin Thompson (Peterlee & Horden), Meg Owen (Bishop Auckland), Hannah Picknett (Yarm), Maddy Chandler (Bishop Auckland), Dagmara Podgorska (Stockton), Sophie Underwood (Durham Uni), Naomi Garbutt (Stockton).
Replacements: April Roxby (Peterlee & Horden), Molly Dutchburn (Bishop Auckland), Amy Hayhurst (Stockton), Maggie Graham (Houghton), Clara Verlaque, Hollie Mountain (both Bishop Auckland), Ndapanda Kakundi (Stockton), Emma Lawson (Bishop Auckland).
Tries: Barrett 6, Clabby 15, Mountain 64, D Graham 71, M Graham 75. Cons, McCann 16.
Referee: Chrissy Clark (Oxon SRFR)
Livestream of Saturday’s matches can be found in the link
Watch the the livestream and put on BBC Radio Cornwall for the best audio of the game.
Here is the link for the Radio Cornwall online commentary for the Women’s final, Men’s final on normal radio.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/live/cd7pqdx1j9et
BBC Cornwall doing a big match preview at 6 pm Friday evening
There is just two changes to the Cornwall team to play Lancashire in the Bill Beaumont Cup Final on Saturday at Twickenham.
Redruth’s Tyler Gendall comes in for the injured Archie Rolls. Sam Rodman has recovered from his knock and assumes his place on the bench. Fellow Red Edd Pascoe also returns to the team with Jago Sheppard reverting to the bench with Pat Walton missing out.
Kick-off is 5 pm. The team will arrive at Twickenham around 3:15 pm on Saturday.
Cornwall Women selectors have announced their side to play Durham Women in the Gill Burns Division 2 final on Saturday morning at 11 am at the Allianz Twickenham Stadium.
It will be a first for the Cornwall Women to play at the home of England rugby, in 2022 when they won the Gill Burns Division 3 title that final was play at the Richmond Athletic Ground.
The side sees some changes to the team that defeated North Midlands in the semi-final.
In the second row Jess Humber starts in place of Caitlin Milliken who reverts to the bench, likewise for Rosie Ninnis who sees Michaella Roberts start at No.8.
On the bench Rhiannon Thomas returns with Maddie Webber missing out.
Megan Arnold continues to captain the side in the absence of Amy Bunt, with Amy Warman vice-captain.
After training this evening the Cornwall Women’s team will travel on Friday to their hotel just outside of London. The team are due to arrive at Twickenham at 9:30 am on Saturday morning to prepare for the match and pre-match protocol.
