By Bill Hooper, at the Eden Project                                                             

Cornwall RFU held on Sunday it’s pre-championship team building day at new team co-sponsor the Eden Project.

Despite being bruised and battered from their games the previous day, players and their families came along for a specially arranged day that was also family orientated.

We were welcomed by Head of Media Relations at Eden, David Rowe, who reminded us that Eden had been involved with the county side some 18 years ago.

County Chairman Dave Saunter then welcomed everyone on behalf of the CRFU.

There followed presentations to the players about the program for this season along with the unveiling of the new county shirt which this season features a white collar and a passing nod to the 1991 shirt.

County President John Sumnall thanked everybody for attending and paid tribute to all the county sponsors, St. Austell Brewery, Kelsall Steele, Brooks Macdonald, Eden Project and Trelawny’s Army.

Trelawny’s Army members then led the audience in the singing of Trelawny before everyone tucked into an excellent buffet provided by the Eden Project.

Last season’s county skipper Ben Hilton was delighted with the turnout. He said. “It’s wonderful turnout given the weather conditions that are prevailing across Cornwall, around 150 people here today just to launch our campaign is amazing.

Hilton feels that there is always a special buzz on these occasions. “It’s a great communal feeling, the coming together of the clans, it doesn’t matter if you are playing at Redruth or Liskeard-Looe or wherever you come together for a common cause.

“I am really excited to see Eden coming onboard as a partner this season alongside some of our more established sponsors, it’s great that they have a belief in us and listening to David Rowe speaking I feel sure that this partnership will endure well past my playing days.

Hilton’s enthusiasm for playing for Cornwall remains undiminished. “Playing for Cornwall has been and remains a big part of my playing career. If I can transmit some of my passion to the young players coming into the squad then I am delighted. Everybody here today wants to be part of it, but to succeed you must put in the hard work at training and buy into our ethos.

“Once again we will go into games as underdogs, but our belief and the support from Trelawny’s Army will motivate us and push us to give our best.”   

Thanks must also be expressed to St. Austell Brewery who provided us with the video presentation and also their excellent beer.

Welcome to our new website and we thank all those that have enabled this work to take place.

As we enter the second half of the season I would like to share some of my experiences and thoughts during my visits to the Cornwall Clubs and Rugby in Cornwall.

Of the eleven Clubs that I have visited so far, I have been impressed by the commitment that their volunteers give not only to their Club but also to rugby and their community by many different methods.

The successful hosting of sponsors at pre match meals and buffets at Bude, Camborne. Launceston and St Austell not only cater for their followers but it also brings in welcome finance and occasionally new people to the game and the Club. Liskeard-Looe provide a very welcome hot drinks cabin adjacent to the pitch and Saltash, on the day that I visited, were selling home made cakes and goodies to help with a mini/junior tour. At Wadebridge, I was impressed by the number of helpers on their two pitches and in the Club House, all volunteers.

The number of ex players attending the matches at Newquay Hornets and Penryn state much about the continual commitment and value of these guys and hopefully their current players will follow their example.

Deep down in the far south west that great community Club, St Just, had just purchased adjacent land to extend their camping facilities during the summer with the intention of providing even more facilities at their Club.

However, there are unknown benefits to be gained when visiting Clubs and these outcomes include discussing their requirements to enable the CRFU to help to meet, as far as possible, their needs. At Lanner training lights have been arranged. Stithians had ten registered players and two committee members at the beginning of the season and have recently completed all their fixtures well done Stithians. May I remind Clubs that they do not have to wait for a visit. Just ask!

A very pleasant evening was spent at a CRRS meeting when a discussion was held entitled “Rugby in Cornwall” and the referees chose to discuss not refereeing but their concern for the state of the game. These included the loss of players between 16 and 18, the introduction of “Game On” and the reasons for the deduction of league points. Most enlightening. Monthly visits are made to the Cornwall Rugby Sages when an update is given on CRFU matters before they enjoy their pasty, pint and singing. These are always well attended by some great past players and stalwarts of Cornish rugby and I thoroughly recommend them to you.

A special highlight was to be invited to the England Women v. France Women at Exeter and not only observe a great win for England but the magnificent spectacle of some 150 girls ferried from Cornwall by our CDCs and others. The Ladies and Girls game is certainly growing in Cornwall from this interest and I wish them every success.