Cornish Pirates Chart Ambitious Route from Championship to Premiership Rugby
The Cornish Pirates are advancing a strategic plan, known as the 'Prem Plan,' to ascend from the Championship to the Premiership with the goal of establishing a top-tier professional rugby club based in Cornwall. This vision seeks to anchor rugby at the heart of a new development near the A30, which may include a new arena or hub, and potentially feature a hotel or medical centre to support the club and region.
Previously, former owner Sir Richard Evans—now Sir Richard—had intentions to move the club to the Stadium for Cornwall, but funding was withdrawn and local political dynamics intervened. In March 2022, he announced a three-year sunset plan to end his majority backing. A local consortium has since rescued the club from near folding. Despite operating on a playing budget of around £800,000, less than half of some Championship leaders, the Pirates have remained competitive under coaches Gavin Cattle and Alan Paver.
The current home ground, Mennaye Field, attracts crowds such as the recent attendance of 1,722. Owned by the Penzance & Newlyn amateur club, it falls short of Premiership standards and features an 'eco roof.' The Pirates are negotiating for a new venue to meet elite competition requirements.
Pirates CEO Sally Pettipher maintains a strong commitment to premier status, emphasizing that nothing is finalized but that a Premiership plan is active and that Cornwall deserves a Premiership rugby club. There is concern within the rugby community that by 2030, the Premiership may close access to non-elite clubs, potentially inhibiting promotion. Pettipher aspires to disrupt any such closed-shop dynamic by achieving Premiership status sooner.
The Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney has visited the region to explore the Pirates' vision, and international club leaders such as Brive chair Simon Gillham have offered insights remotely. Examples like Brive and Vannes illustrate successful regional clubs with strong identity, suggesting a model that the Cornish Pirates might emulate if suitable investment is secured.
Growing speculation suggests that a franchise-style ownership model could emerge, where a wealthy investor may engage to buy into Cornwall's rugby venture and help secure a Premiership slot, leveraging the region's unique appeal and passion for the sport.
