2012–13 Cornish Pirates RFC season

Pre–season friendlies

RFU Championship

Stage one consists of twelve teams playing each of the other teams twice, once at home and once away, making a total of 22 games for each team. The league programme starts on Saturday, 1 September 2012 and will be completed by Saturday, 20 April 2013. The top four teams qualify for the two–legged semi–finals whilst the bottom team will be relegated to National League 1.

Stage one fixtures

Stage one league table

British and Irish Cup

The 2012–13 British and Irish Cup is the fourth season of the annual rugby union competition for second tier, semi-professional and professional clubs from Britain and Ireland. First round matches began on the weekend of 13 October 2012 and the final will be on the weekend of 17 May 2013. The competition consists of eight groups of four teams playing each other twice to give each team six matches. The top team in each group qualifies for the quarter–finals and the final will be played at a venue to be decided when the finalists are known. The Pirates are in Pool 3.

Group stage

Quarter–final

The quarter–finals were played on the weekend of 6 April and was decided by how well each group winner performed in the group matches. This is the third time in four seasons that the two teams have met with the Pirates winning the two previous encounters. Details of the full draw can be found at 2012–13 British and Irish Cup.

Squad 2012–13

Dual registration

• David Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)
• Lloyd Fairbrother (Exeter Chiefs)
• Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
• Charles Walker–Blair (Exeter Chiefs)
• Rob Cook (Gloucester)
• Jack Yeandle (Exeter Chiefs)
• Lewis Vinnicombe (Redruth)
• Owen Hambly (Redruth)
• Tom Duncan (Redruth)
• Ashley Smith (London Welsh)
• Jack Nowell

Transfers 2012–13

Players in

• ENG Tom Bedford (from ENG Newcastle Falcons)
• ENG Darren Berry (from ENG Bristol)
• ENG Alex Cheeseman (from ENG London Wasps)
• ENG Adam Clayton (from ENG Birmingham & Solihull Bees)
• NZL Alaifatu Junior Fatialofa (from ENG Bristol)
• IRE Kieran Hallett (from ENG Nottingham)
• ENG Gary Johnson (from ENG London Welsh)
• ENG David Lyons (from ENG Moseley)
• ENG Kyle Moyle (from ENG St Ives)
• SCO Ben Prescott (from ENG Northampton Saints and ENG Nottingham)
• WAL Tom Riley from (WAL Newport Gwent Dragons)
• ENG Darren Semmems (from ENG Cornish All Blacks)
• ENG Peter Joyce (from ENG Redruth)
• ENG Ben Mercer (unregistered)

Players out

• RSA Rudi Brits (released)
• ENG Rob Cook (to ENG Gloucester) (dual registration from 7 September)
• ENG Tom Cooper (to JER Jersey)
• ENG Tom Cowan–Dickie (to ENG Plymouth Albion and ENG Exeter Chiefs, dual registration)
• WAL Darren Daniel (released from contract in March 2012)
• ENG David Doherty (to ENG Leeds Carnegie)
• ENG James Doherty (to ENG Leeds Carnegie)
• ENG Drew Locke (to ENG Gloucester)
• WAL Rhodri McAtee (released and moving to ENG Plymouth Albion)
• ENG Mike Myerscough (to ENG Leeds Carnegie)
• SCO Ian Nimmo (to WAL Newport Gwent Dragons)
• ENG Carl Rimmer (to ENG Exeter Chiefs)
• ENG Matt Smith (to ENG Leeds Carnegie)
• USA Andrew Suniula (released)
• WAL Ceiron Thomas (released and moving to ENG St Ives RFC)
• ENG Dave Ward (to ENG Harlequins)
• ENG Ryan Westren

Coaching staff

• Ian Davies (WAL) (Head Coach) from April 2012. Previously Forwards Coach appointed in April 2009.
• Harvey Biljon (RSA) (Backs Coach) appointed in April 2009.
• Simon Raynes (NZL) (Strength and Conditioning Coach) since summer 2005.

References

References

1. Straughan, Dick. (16 August 2012). "Newlook Pirates see off skilled students". The Cornishman.
2. Straughan, Dick. (23 August 2012). "Chiefs hit Pirates with eight try blitz". The Cornishman.
3. Straughan, Dick. (30 August 2012). "Pirates warm up for Jersey opener with five–try victory". The Cornishman.
4. (24 May 2012). "Friendlies announced". [[The Cornishman (newspaper).
5. Straughan, Dick. (24 May 2012). "Davies has mixed feelings over changes to league format". The Cornishman.
6. "2012/13 RFU Championship fixtures". RFU.
7. Straughan, Dick. (6 September 2012). "Evans sees off Jersey boys with superb try hat-trick". The Cornishman.
8. Straughan, Dick. (13 September 2012). "Pirates get out of jail as Cook makes rivals pay the price". The Cornishman.
9. Straughan, Dick. (20 September 2012). "Pirates fail to end their Memorial Ground jin". The Cornishman.
10. Straughan, Dick. (27 September 2012). "Falcons swoop for hard-fought Mennaye victory". The Cornishman.
11. Straughan, Dick. (4 October 2012). "Davies fumes after Pirates are held by lowly Knights". The Cornishman.
12. Straughan, Dick. (11 October 2012). "Biljon left shell-shocked as Scottish snatch victory with last-gasp penalty". The Cornishman.
13. Straughan, Dick. (1 November 2012). "Pirates back on track with home win over Leeds". The Cornishman.
14. Straughan, dick. (8 November 2012). "Old boy Thomas makes Pirates pay the penalty". The Cornishman.
15. Straughan, Dick. (15 November 2012). "Pirates click into gear with eight-try romp". The Cornishman.
16. Straughan, Dick. (29 November 2012). "Biljon offers no excuses for error-strewn display". The Cornishman.
17. (3 January 2013). "Pirates eye play-off spot after derby win". The Cornishman.
18. Straughan, Dick. (3 January 2012). "Pirates on the up as Bristol are shot down". The Cornishman.
19. Straughan, Dick. (14 February 2013). "Pirates grind out four-try victory in Mennaye mud". The Cornishman.
20. Straughan, Dick. (21 February 2013). "Love hurts as Scots make poor Pirates pay". The Cornishman.
21. Straughan, Dick. (28 February 2013). "Falcoons prey on battling Pirates". The Cornishman.
22. Straughan, Dick. (7 March 2013). "Third straight defeat dents Pirates play-off hopes". The Cornishman.
23. Straughan, Dick. (14 March 2013). "Fightback helps Cornish Pirates return to winning ways". The Cornishman.
24. Straughan, Dick. (4 April 2013). "Pirates suffer blue Sunday in Easter thriller". The Cornishman.
25. Straughan, Dick. (14 June 2012). "Campaign of highs and lows for Pirates". The Cornishman.
26. Straughan, Dick. (18 October 2012). "Pirates dig deep for Cup victory". The Cornishman.
27. Straughan, Dick. (25 October 2012). "Ruthless Pirates produce season's best display to defeat spirited Scots". The Cornishman.
28. Straughan, Dick. (13 December 2012). "Pirates sink Swansea to remain top of group". The Cornishman.
29. Straughan, Dick. (20 December 2012). "Victory puts Pirates on brink of quarter-finals". The Cornishman.
30. Straughan, Dick. (17 January 2013). "Last eight spot piece of cake for the Pirates". The Cornishman.
31. "Home v Munster In B&I Cup Quarter Final". Cornish Pirates.
32. Straughan, Dick. (11 April 2013). "Irish eyes are smiling as injury time try denies Pirates place in semi finals". The Cornishman.
33. Straughan, Dick. (26 May 2011). "We're going for it again, vows Pirates owner". The Cornishman.
34. "Ian Nimmo amongst seven to re–sign for Cornish Pirates". BBC.
35. "Cornish Pirates secure Jonny Bentley and Phil Burgess for 2012–13". BBC.
36. "Cornish Pirates keep Rob Cook and six others". BBC.
37. Straughan, Dick. (28 June 2012). "Pirates snap up Riley from Newport Dragons". The Cornishman.
38. Straughan, Dick. (5 July 2012). "Pirates strengthen second row with three new arrivals". The Cornishman.
39. Walrond, Nigel. (23 September 2012). "Pirates bolster squad ready for Falcons' visit". Independent (Plymouth).
40. "Cornish Pirates sign full-back Kyle Moyle". BBC.
41. Richards, Nath. (7 September 2012). "Pirates sign Cook on loan ahead of derby clash". Western Morning News.
42. "Cornish Pirates sign Exeter Chiefs hooker Jack Yeandle". BBC.
43. Walrond, Neil. (9 December 2012). "Moyle Mulls Pirates Deal". Independent (Plymouth).
44. (7 February 2013). "Smith wings in – but may fly out Trusted article source icon". The Cornishman.
45. "Cornish Pirates sign Moseley lock David Lyons". BBC.
46. Walrond, Nigel. (12 May 2013). "Thomas has enjoyed player-coach position". Independent (Plymouth).
47. (21 May 2012). "Cornish Pirates sign Wasps centre Alex Cheeseman and five others". BBC Sport.
48. Mitchell, Rhod. (8 September 2012). "Redruth prop makes switch to Pirates". Western Morning News.
49. Mitchell, Rhod. "Blow for Pirates as points machine Cook joins Premiership club". Western Morning News.
50. Marsh, Paddy. (1 July 2012). "Albion next for Cowan–Dickie on his rugby learning curve". Independent (Plymouth).
51. Mitchell, Rhod. "Reds miss out on McActee as he opts for Albion". Western Morning News.
52. "Exeter Chiefs sign Cornish Pirates prop Carl Rimmer". BBC.
53. Walrond, Nigel. (21 June 2012). "St Ives complete coup of summer as Thomas signs". The Cornishman.
54. Walrond, Nigel. (3 June 2012). "Pirates will be back for pre–season in a month!". The Independent (Plymouth).
55. Straughan, Dick. (24 May 2012). "Mennaye moves for six more signings". The Cornishman.
56. Straughan, Dick. (7 June 2012). "Nimmo joins lengthy list of summer departures". The Cornishman.
57. "Chris Stirling to help Cornish Pirates coaches". BBC.
58. "Simon Raynes". Cornish Pirates.