Cornwall's rugby teams compete for national titles at Twickenham
Both men's and women's sides to take on national competitions
Cornwall's men's and women's rugby teams are gearing up for a significant day at Twickenham, as both sides prepare to play in their respective finals on Saturday. This marks the first time that a Cornwall women's rugby team will compete at the iconic venue, a historic milestone after their promotion to Division Two four years ago.
The women's team, AKA the Black and Gold, will face Durham in the Gill Burns Cup Division Two final, kicking off at 11 am. Their opponents reached the final by defeating Cornwall's rivals Devon 53-19 last Saturday, while Cornwall secured their place with a 19-12 victory against North Midlands.
In the Cornwall women's lineup, Jess Humber steps into the second row in place of Caitlin Milliken, who moves to the bench. Similarly, Rosie Ninnis sees Michaella Roberts start at No. 8. The bench will feature Rhiannon Thomas, with Maddie Webber missing out. Megan Arnold continues to lead the team as captain in the absence of Amy Bunt, with Amy Warman serving as vice-captain.
Later in the day, Cornwall men's team will compete in the Bill Beaumont Cup final against Lancashire, commencing at 5 pm. The Duchy side last appeared at Twickenham in 2022. They arrive after a convincing 59-19 victory over Kent in the semi-finals.
The men's team includes Redruth’s Tyler Gendall, replacing injured Archie Rolls, while Sam Rodman has recovered to take his place on the bench. Edd Pascoe returns to the starting lineup, while Jago Sheppard shifts to the bench in Pat Walton's absence.
Both Cornwall teams are due to arrive at Twickenham well in advance of their matches to finalise preparations, with the women's team arriving at 9:30 am and the men's team following at 3:15 pm. As the county aims to emulate the 2022 success of simultaneous victories, anticipation is building for a memorable day of rugby.