News – Page 2

Cornwall School Rugby Finals

February 2, 2026 by Bill Hooper

Please note the change of venue for this Friday’s finals now at Truro College. Also note that no parking is available on site.

Cornwall U.20s v Cornwall Clubs XV

February 2, 2026 by Bill Hooper

Cornwall Clubs XV selectors have put together a great side for this Wednesday’s game against Cornwall U.20s at St. Austell RFC, kick-off 7:30 pm. Gates open 6 pm. Adults £2. Under 16s Free entry.

Cornwall Under 20s have named the following squad for this fixture.

Congratulations to all the players on their selection.

With many Cornish rugby pitches unplayable following the recent horrendous weather the CRFU hired all weather pitches to allow some clubs who had been worst affected to play rugby on 31st January. There was no charge to the clubs who played.

Four games took place at Callywith College while Truro College staged two games. At Callywith two Colts games took up the morning session whilst two senior games were played in the afternoon. It was only possible to play one Colts game and one Senior game at Truro.

Teams ranging from St Just to Launceston, Saltash to Bude and all points in-betwen took part. In total with six games taking place we think something like 500 of our rugby community comprising players, coaches, physios, touch judges and supporters enjoyed their fix of rugby. In addition Will Hancock a recent graduate of the recent Ready2Ref course held at St Austell made his senior refereeing debut.

Many thanks to all who made this possible and in particular Dave Saunter (pictured above with Bodmin RFC players) and Lee Maher for their sterling work on and off the field

CRFU President’s XV v Crawshay’s Welsh

February 1, 2026 by Bill Hooper

Looking forward to Cornwall RFU Presidents XV versus Crawshay’s Welsh Rugby this coming Saturday 7th February. Hosted at Camborne RFC. Early Kick Off at 13:30.

The link between Crawshays and Camborne RFC is a long standing one, over 100 years.

Yet another testament to the camaraderie and ethos, which is, the sport we know as Rugby.

Keep following the Cornwall pages for updates. Below is some history on our visiting Celts.

CRAWSHAY’S WELSH RFC

Founded 1922

The ripple caused in the rugby world when Captain Geoffrey Crawshay (photo below) took his first team to play against Devonport Services in 1922 at the invitation of the Engineer Commander S.F. Cooper has grown and grown. The Club has now played, since that first match, in many countries of the world. There have been many tours by both the Senior and Youth XV’s including 15 French tours, tours to Italy, Germany, Russia, South Africa, Ireland, Spain, Latvia, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, Thailand, plus Seven – a side tournament in Hong Kong, Dubai, Monte Carlo, Portugal and Scotland.

When Captain Geoffrey Crawshay died in 1954 the Club might have lapsed but thanks to the guidance of a few old players headed by the late Judge Rowe Harding, who had played in the first game, and the late Wilfred Jones who became the first official secretary of the Club and with the great support from Colonel Sir William Crawshay, the Club entered a new era.

In 1964, in order to finance the club Sir William suggested appointing twelve Vice Presidents at a subscription of five guineas each. Today we have more than 600 Vice Presidents from all over the world paying an annual subscription which allows the Club to survive and support both the Senior and Youth teams. Almost 100 years on since the first game the spirit of Crawshay’s remains the same; it is how the game is played on and off the field that matters, and the friendships are made for life. In the fast-changing world of rugby and sport, the spirit of Crawshay’s never changes.

Cornwall and Crawshays players after the match. – Photo mandatory by-line: �Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo – 30/04/22, Cornwall, Crawhays, Welsh XV, Centenary Tour, CRFU, Sport, Rugby Union, Camborne, Recreation Ground, Cornwall, England

Since 1922 over 400 players that have represented the Club at either Youth or Senior level have gone on to represent the senior Welsh team. Other players have gone on to represent the senior international teams of England, Ireland, Scotland, Tonga, USA, Canada, Malta, South Africa and New Zealand. Notable current and recent international players who have played for Crawshay’s include Ryan Jones, Shane Williams, Dan Lydiate, Richard Hibbard, Andy Powell, Rhys Webb, Ken Owens, Matthew Screech and Taine Basham of Wales and the England players Mauritz Botha and Tom Wood.

Today the Club is in the hands of hardworking amateur Officials, the Club is successful, happy and respected everywhere the game is played and is very thankful for your continued support.

Ymlaen, Crawshay’s i fynd o nerth i nerth.

From Cornwall to England A

January 31, 2026 by Bill Hooper

Congratulations to Billy Searle on his selection to the England A squad to play an Ireland XV next Friday.

Billy has been having a great season with Leicester Tigers following his move back to England from Agen in France. Billy played for Launceston RC as well as the Cornwall team that won the Bill Beaumont Cup in 2016.

South West U.18 Selection

January 31, 2026 by Bill Hooper

Congratulations to our Captain of the Cornwall RFU Under 18’s, Lewis Crannis on his selection into the South West Team.

Lewis is a also a player at Perranporth Rugby Club.

We wish him safe travels to the University of Warwick for training sessions leading to game day against London SE. All the very best Lewis.

No Ref, No Game: Keeping Respect at the Heart of Our Sport

January 26, 2026 by Bill Hooper

Please take note and apply the following.

Rugby is more than just a sport; it’s a community built on Integrity, Discipline, and Respect. At the center of every match is the referee—the person who makes the game possible. Whether we win or lose, how we treat the official defines who we are as a club.
The Cost of Dissent
When players shout, coaches vent, or supporters jeer from the sidelines, the damage goes deeper than a simple penalty:
For the Referees: Constant criticism leads to burnout and mental fatigue. Many officials, especially at the grassroots level, are walking away from the game because the environment has become too hostile.
For the Game: If we lose our referees, we lose our fixtures. It’s that simple. A lack of respect tarnishes rugby’s unique reputation and creates a toxic atmosphere for everyone involved.
For the Players: A team focused on arguing with or abusing the ref is a team that has lost its focus on the match. Poor discipline on the sidelines leads to poor discipline on the pitch, resulting in cards and lost points.
The Power of Respect
When we champion the referee, the game thrives. An official who feels respected is more confident, making for a fairer, faster, and more enjoyable match. By showing respect, we teach our younger players the true meaning of sportsmanship and ensure that our club remains a welcoming place for everyone.
Our Commitment
We are calling on every player, coach, and supporter to lead by example. Make sure your club is known for its passion on the pitch and its class on the sidelines. Challenge negative behavior when you see it and remember: the referee is a human being doing their best for the sport we love.
We don’t need a committee meeting or a new season to change the culture. We need to hold ourselves to a higher standard every time we pull on the jersey or stand on the touchline.

This should start now.

NB. Regretably this season a team has had to be excluded from an Age Grade competition due to match official abuse towards a referee. We will not hesitate to repeat if further cases take place at any level of the game.