Rugby union in Cornwall is Cornwall's most popular spectator sport with a large following. The followers of the county side are dubbed Trelawny's Army. In 1991 and 1999 Cornwall made the County Championships finals, played at Twickenham Stadium, with Cornwall beating first Yorkshire and in 1999 Gloucestershire to win the cup.
The Cornish Pirates are a professional rugby union team who play in the Championship, the second level of the English rugby union pyramid, and are the premier Cornish rugby club. Formerly known as Penzance & Newlyn RFU, the Cornish Pirates play and train at their home ground, the Mennaye Field in Penzance.
Redruth RFC is a rugby union club from the town of Redruth, Cornwall, currently playing in the fourth tier of the English league system, National League 2 South. The club runs a number of men's teams including 1st XV, 2nd XV, Colts and a Select XV as well as a number of junior teams from age 7 through to 16. They are one of the most successful club sides in Cornwall, having won the Cornwall Cup 10 times and the Cornwall Super Cup 3 times, and are currently the second highest ranked club side behind the Cornish Pirates. Redruth enjoys a strong a rivalry with neighbours Camborne, with the two clubs meeting annually, in what is the world’s longest enduring rugby fixture.
Launceston Rugby Club are a Cornish rugby club who play at Polson Bridge, Launceston, Cornwall. They are currently in South West Premier, at the fifth tier of the English rugby union system following their promotion from Tribute South West 1 West via a playoff. At present the club fields two senior men's teams, colts (under-18), mini/junior sides, as well as several girls teams.
Camborne RFC was established in 1878, and are one of the most famous rugby union clubs in Cornwall. They currently play in South West Premier following promotion from Tribute South West 1 West in 2015–16; a level five league in the English rugby union system. When the rugby union leagues were introduced in 1987, Camborne was the highest placed Cornish team and played in Area 4 South. They are also one of the most successful club sides in Cornwall having won the Cornish Cup ten times as of 2016 – level with local rivals Redruth – following a record fourth title in a row in 2016. Camborne enjoys a strong a rivalry with neighbours Redruth, with the two clubs meeting each year, in what is the world's longest enduring rugby fixture.
South West 1 West is an English, level six, rugby union league for clubs based in the south-west of England; mainly Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire and Somerset. It was originally a single division known as South West 2 but in 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues – South West 1 West and South West 1 East.
Veor Rugby Football Club is a Cornish and English rugby union football club based in Camborne, Cornwall. The club, founded in 1966, play in amber and black at the Memorial Ground. They are one of two teams in the town, along with illustrious neighbours, Camborne RFC. They currently play in Cornwall/Devon - a league at level 8 of the English rugby union system - following their promotion as champions of Cornwall 1 at the end of the 2018–19 season.
Competitive Rugby League was established in Cornwall in 2010 by Joe Catcheside, who working on behalf of the Rugby Football League, organised and established an annual fixture between Devon and Cornwall. Until this time all rugby league played in Cornwall had been exhibition matches and featured teams from outside Cornwall. The first match between Devon and Cornwall was played in August 2010. The match is now played annually and is regularly billed as the "County Clash" or the "County of Origin" game and the teams play for the Martin Roddy MBE Trophy.
The 2013–14 National League 2 South was the fifth season of the fourth tier (south) of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. The league system was 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and additional bonus points being awarded for scoring 4 or more tries and/or losing within 7 points of the victorious team. In terms of promotion the league champions would go straight up into National League 1 while the runners up would have a one-game playoff against the runners up from National League 2 North for the final promotion place. After an absence of several years, the Cornwall Super Cup returned in a new format with the two league matches between the Cornish sides Launceston and Redruth also counting towards the cup.
The CRFU Cornwall Cup is an annual rugby union knock-out cup club competition organised by the Cornwall Rugby Football Union first played for in 1896 but only regularly since 1969. It is open for teams based in Cornwall that are ranked below the national leagues but above the Cornish regional divisions. Tier 9 to 10 clubs have their own competition in the Cornish Clubs Cup.
The CRFU Cornwall Clubs Cup is an annual rugby union knock-out cup club competition organised by the Cornwall Rugby Football Union. First played for in 1897 but only regularly since 1971. It is open to teams based in Cornwall and play in the Cornish regional divisions. It is the third highest ranked cup competition in the county after the Cornwall Super Cup and Cornwall Cup.
The 2015–16 National League 2 South is the seventh season of the fourth tier (south) of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. There was talk of this being the last season in this format due to RFU changes to tier four which were supposed to result in a restructuring of the league from two regional divisions to three for the 2016–17 season but this seems to have been put on hold due to protests from the northern clubs who stood to lose revenue from a smaller fixture list.
The 2016 Bill Beaumont Cup, also known as Bill Beaumont Cup Division One, was the 116th version of the annual, English rugby union, County Championship organized by the RFU for the top tier English counties. Each county drew its players from rugby union clubs from the third tier and below of the English rugby union league system. The counties were divided into two regional pools with the winners of each meeting in the final held at Twickenham Stadium. New counties to the competition were the two finalists from the 2015 County Championship Plate – Surrey (winners) and Eastern Counties (runners-up) who replaced Kent and Durham who were relegated from their respective groups. Cornwall were the defending champions.
Kieron Lewitt is an English former rugby union footballer who played at full back or on the wing. Nicknamed Chewy, he is a former England youth international who has Premiership experience with Bath, but is best known for his two spells with Launceston, where he became club captain. An excellent points kicker, he was one of the most prolific scorers of all-time in National League 2 South with over 1,000 points, and his performances have seen him representing Cornwall in the county championships. Since being forced to retire due to injury in 2015, Keiron had spell at Launceston as backs coach.
James Tucker is a retired English rugby union player who used to play at fly-half and centre. Known for his try scoring, Tucker spent the majority of his career at hometown club Launceston. He was also capped 50 times by Cornwall and was part of the side that won the 1999 Bill Beaumont Cup. Since retiring he has balanced his time as a dairy farmer with coaching the Launceston Colts. In 2015 Tucker was appointed as head coach of Launceston.
St Austell RFC is a Cornish rugby union club that is based in the town of St Austell and was founded in 1963. The club run three senior men's teams as well as ladies side, a colts and multiple junior/mini sides. The club's kit is red and white hoops and the first team currently play in Tribute Western Counties West with home games at Tregorrick Park.
Matthew Shepherd is an English and Cornish rugby union player who currently plays at scrum-half or full back for Redruth in National League 2 South, having previously played for Plymouth Albion in National League 1. An extremely reliable points scorer with a knack for scoring important tries, he was instrumental in Cornwall's County Championship victories in 2015 and 2016 and has also been capped by England Counties XV. As well as playing union, Shepherd has played summer rugby league for the Cornish Rebels.
Truro RFC is a Cornish rugby union club that is based in the city of Truro and was formed in 1885. The club's colours are blue and yellow and they operate 2 senior men's teams, a women’s team, a colts side and various mini/junior teams. The men's first team currently play in Cornwall/Devon - a league at level 8 of the English rugby union system - following the club's relegation from Tribute Western Counties West at the end of the 2018–19 season.
Alex Ducker is an English and Cornish rugby union & rugby league player who plays as a winger or full back. He is currently playing at Plymouth Albion having signed for the club in the summer of 2019 from Camborne. An extremely gifted try scorer who can also kick points, he is most comfortable on the wing but can also play at full back. During his career he has led a nomadic existence which has seen him play for all of the top club sides in Cornwall including a stint with the Cornish Pirates. Ducker has been capped by the Cornwall senior rugby union side and has played summer rugby league with the Cornish Rebels, as well as experiencing Premiership Rugby Sevens with the Exeter Chiefs.
Ryan Westren is a Cornish rugby union player who is currently a player-coach at Launceston, where he plays at outside centre. A club legend at Launceston, he previously played professional rugby union with Cornish Pirates and London Scottish, as well as captaining Cornwall in the county championships. His brother, Murray Westren, is also a rugby player, while their father, Phil Westren, played for Cornish Pirates when they were known as Penzance/Newlyn.
England 