Edinburgh, PJ and Super 14s

Posted under Director's Commentary by admin on Wednesday 27 May 2009 at 12:00 am

Well what a nice weekend that was ….. Edinburgh is a beautiful city but huge!! ….. at the time I did not think the game was that great but after watching it on television it was not at all that bad …. maybe it was the cold and the rubbish organisation at Murrayfield that allowed us 1 pint during the 3 hours we were in the ground! However, that said, we did find a good place to have a pint or two and a few were consumed over a very enjoyable weekend …. 

 

As you all know PJ Gidlow will not be with us next season. PJ has accepted an offer to join Championship side Birmingham and Solihull Bees. He will be a huge loss to the club and a massive gain for the Bees. During the past 4 seasons I cannot speak highly enough of his contribution both on and off the field. The impression that he has left will stay with the club forever. PJ has always wanted to play rugby at the highest level he possibly could, obviously he would of loved to have done that with Redruth, but as the seasons go by so do the opportunities hence his decision. I’m not going to avoid the fact that the club’s decision, and what it had to do on contracts for next season, had a baring on his decision, but we all have to accept the decisions from both sides …. PJ will be welcome back at the club at any time. He has also been a great captain and the way that he has handled himself and team has not gone unnoticed by officials both on and off the field. From us all mate, we sincerely wish you all the very best and we will all follow your progress with great interest …. 

 

Also leaving is Mike Georgiou who is returning to Wales with his partner, we all wish Mike the very best, Rob Thirlby has joined Moseley and, again, we wish Rob all the very best. Rob had a great season and certainly showed what a class player he is. He is now only a few miles from his base and he must be very glad to see the back of the horrendous journey he had to endure. Finally, as we all know, Luke Collins is joining the Pirates … we wish them all the very best of luck.

 

Those of you who were at the AGM will of heard that we have signed both Adryan Winnan and Sam Heard for next season. Added to this  Chris Morris (Cornish All Blacks), Jamie Semmens (Cornish All Blacks/Mounts Bay), Sam Parsons (Mounts Bay) will also arrive at the club. I am very close to signing 2 other players and these will be announced accordingly . The AGM was well attended and I hope people took on board what I was trying to say and what we needed to do as a club to move forward. The decisions we have had to make have been very tough …   

 

I received this email from a "great" reds supporter over the weekend and I feel it should be published. Receiving this sort of thing makes me very proud of what we have at Redruth ….. this was sent by Paul Smith (Smithy to his mates) and refers to his daughter Abigail who, if you recall, is our current "Supporter of the Year) ….. and to Richard Carroll … this is what he wrote  ….


"If people ever wonder why Redruth is known as a great community club then I think that I may have a reason.

 

"We made the trip to Cinderford on Saturday to watch Redruth, (disguised as Cornwall) play in the Bill Beaumont Cup and it was there that Abs learned of PJ leaving, seeing the Redruth players lifted her spirits as did the all too familiar cuddle from Newqs. What happened after the game has left me lost for words".

"Abigail waited in her usual position, (always the place where the players enter and leave the pitch) when she was spotted by the one and only Newqs who proceeded towards her, another cuddle was administered along with the words "Thanks for coming" but the icing on the cake was the fact that he gave her his match shirt, (I believe that there are photos on the CRFU & Trelawneys Army web sites). This now hangs on the back of her bedroom door, (Washed of course). Despite all of the bad press that he gets there is a side to him which few people ever see."

Its no wonder that the young ones like the old b****er and no doubt a key reason for hooking Abs into the reds, probably for life….. 

Beat that!!  

The Super 14 will be a Super 15 from 2011, with a new-look three conference calendar stretching the Super Rugby season to 24 weeks.

There will be three five-team conferences, one based in each of the SANZAR countries with Australia by far the most likely country to benefit. The new 24-week Super Rugby competition guarantees each team a minimum of eight home matches and a 16-match regular season. A new six team finals series includes an extra round with two "sudden-death" qualifiers before the semi-finals. All teams will have a three-week bye while the tournament is suspended during the June International Test window, while the Tri-Nations series has also been given a new time slot in the calendar to run at the conclusion of Super Rugby

Key features of the proposed new season structure are:


Redruth sign five

Posted under Player News by admin on Friday 22 May 2009 at 12:00 am

REDRUTH RUGBY ANNOUNCES FIVE SIGNINGS FOR NEXT SEASON


As featured in Friday


Cornwall v Somerset highlights on You Tube

Posted under Cornish Rugby News by admin on Wednesday 20 May 2009 at 12:00 am

Missed Cornwall’s 38-0 victory over Somerset? Need to re-live Owen Hambly’s darting runs, Sean Hawkey’s blistering pace and Darren Jacques’s thundering charges? Want some ideas for a stag party?

Highlights from the match are now available on the RugbyReds channel homepage on YouTube!

Enjoy!


Cornwall, Heineken and AGM !

Posted under Director's Commentary by admin on Tuesday 19 May 2009 at 12:00 am
Starting this week with the Cornwall v Somerset game that was played at the Rec on Saturday. It felt like it was mid November rather than mid May!! …. heavy showers, gale force winds and puddles on the pitch!! However it did not deter a rampant Cornwall team from "steam rollering" their opponents. It was a good game of rugby and the team. based on the backbone of the Redruth side, played with great endeavour and team spirit. There were good performances from Hanno Dirksen and Adryan Winnan and all of our players did well. Next weekend Cornwall play Gloucestershire at Cinderford and this match will determine who goes onto Twickenham to contest the Bill Beaumont Cup … it will be tough as Gloucestershire easily disposed of the Devon challenge this past weekend …..   
 
Went to the Cornwall Business Awards Dinner last Thursday and what a good do that was. It was held at St Mellion Golf and Country Club and what a place that is! Daphne Skinnard (Radio Cornwall) was there as was Gerald Ratner … remember him? He gave a very witty speech about the collapse of his jewellery empire and his continued attempts to rebuild a career that was destroyed by his infamous speech back in 1991 when he described some of his products, that were on sale in his shops, as "crap". Anyway it worked out well for Somar … we had 3 nominations, we won one category for "Best Diversification" and received Runners Up Awards in the categories for "Customer Focus" and "Best Technology" ….. 
 
My trip to Edinburgh is getting closer and I fly out of Newquay on Friday lunchtime. The rest of the guys leave Redruth at around 3:30am to catch their flight from Exeter!! No doubt there will be some who are using the Newquay facility so if its you …. I will see you there!! The only reason I have decided to do it this way is because the AGM is on Thursday and I know my ability to sleep after that will be limited to say the least! In days gone by it would not of bothered me but now that I am older my resilience is far lees than in previous years! I am sure the rest will have a Guinness or 2 for brekki followed by a further few before I get there which will be mid afternoon …… och I the noo!!
 
Just as a point of interest here are some Heineken Cup statistics … don’t you just love an "anorak"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 



Redruth fixtures 2009-10

Posted under Match Previews by admin on Tuesday 19 May 2009 at 12:00 am

The confirmed fixture list for Redruth next season is as below:

05 September – Cambridge – home 3pm

12 September – Launceston- away 3pm

19 September – Esher – home 3pm

26 September – Nuneaton – away 3pm

03 October – Blaydon – home 3pm

10 October – Wharfedale- away 2.30

17 October – Manchester- home 3pm

24 October – Cinderford- away 3pm

31 October – Otley – home 3pm

07 November – London Scottish-H 2.30

14 November – Stourbridge- away 3pm

21 November – no game

28 November – Newbury – home 2.30

05 December – Tynedale – away 2pm

12 December – Blackheath- home 2.30

19 December – Sedgley Park away 2pm

26 December – no league game

2010

02 January – Launceston – home 2.30

09 January – Esher – away 3pm

16 January – Nuneaton – home 2.30

23 January – Blaydon – away 2pm

30 January – Wharfedale – home 2.30

06 February – no league game

13 February – Manchester – away 2pm

20 February – Cinderford – home 2.30pm

27 February – Otley – away 2pm

06 March – London Scottish – away 2.30pm

13 March – no league game

20 March – Stourbridge – home 3pm

27 March – Newbury – away 3pm

03 April(Easter)Tynedale – home 3pm

10 April – Blackheath – away 3pm

17 April – Sedgley Park-home 3pm

24 April – Cambridge – away 3pm

Kick off times are all to be confirmed at this stage.


Redruth’s Cornwall contingent

Posted under Cornish Rugby News by admin on Monday 11 May 2009 at 12:00 am

A massive well done to Redruth’s seven starters for Cornwall in Saturday’s win at Brickfields against Devon.

Paul Thirlby, Mark Richards, Darren Jacques, Owen Hambly, Luke Collins, Richard Carroll and Mark Bright.

Additionally, the club had four on the bench, Peter Joyce, Chris Fuca, Damien Cook and Brett Rule, plus travelling reserve, centre Steve Kenward.

A huge congratulations in an impressive display all round.


New Community brochure

Posted under Commercial News by admin on Monday 11 May 2009 at 12:00 am


Under 14′s end of season report

Posted under Under 14's by admin on Wednesday 6 May 2009 at 12:00 am

After another long hard season which has seen some changes in players and coaches,and with approx 30 boys training each week the competition for places within the team has raised the standard of play.They have shown a dramatic improvement in form over the last month against touring teams from all over England and Wales, with home victories over teams from Newport,Cardiff,Barnstaple and Wellington, an excellent draw against Richmond and a narrow away defeat against Birmingham due to a “crucial” refereeing decision.
Hopefully if we are faster out of the blocks next year and can avoid as many injuries as we have had this year, we should be back in contention for some silverware.

Well done to all the squad for their effort and commitment, hope to see you all back fit and well for pre-season training in July.
Thank you to all those involved with the running of the team and to our loyal supporters.


New League season format rumbles on…

Posted under Director's Commentary by admin on Wednesday 6 May 2009 at 12:00 am

Firstly this week, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Steve Enoch and his family on the tragic loss of their son Ben. Steve used to play for Truro and became a much respected opponent of mine when we used to play against each other. Steve’s son had a fatal car accident last week. Ben was a superb golfer and was destined for great things. I can’t even begin to think the agony they must be suffering. I no doubt echo the clubs and everyone elses feelings who follows any sport at any level.

I read with interest Roger Moyle’s comments on the demise of Mounts Bay. Just to put the record straight on a couple of matters, it was quoted that Redruth were one of a number of clubs who slashed players wages this last season. That is not true, our players have been on exactly the same match fees all season, yes there was a delay in paying January’s but we have never reduced them.

Also I note that a player’s name, Tyrone Child to be precise, was quoted as not being available through a change in visa restrictions, again that is untrue as Tyrone played the whole season for Westcombe Park ….. not sure where he got his info but wherever it was its rubbish!

The Heineken Cup certainly threw up two crackers on Saturday and Sunday but what a farcical end. I have experienced this sort of thing already this season when Truro College progressed to the Daily Mail Cup Final but that was certainly “fairer” if there is such a word.

The format for Sunday was a joke! Why didn’t they nominate 3 kickers and each have 3 pots at goal, 3 in front, 3 from the 15m line on the 22 on either side and so on …. to have the “football” format was unfair. If Martin Williams does decide to hang up his boots after the Lions Tour what a memory to take with him! He has has been an outstanding rugby player but to have this tied around his neck is bad ….

However lets not let the situation cloud a brilliant game of rugby. Tom Croft has made the Lions selection look as farcical as the final outcome of the semi final, he was simply awesome as was Toby Flood whilst he was on the field.Leicester will give Leinster one hell of a game and whilst Leinster were my original choices for the Cup (remember that!!!!) I think Leicester will benefit from the fact that they are playing almost every week up until the final. Next Saturday they entertain Bath in the Guinness Premiership Semi Final.

It could be that fate will now play a big part in Croft’s possible selection for the South African trip! Alan Quinlan, the Munster flanker, has been cited for possible contact with the eye area of Leinster captain Leo Cullen. In the after match interview Cullen certainly looked marked around that area, but everyone has leapt to the defence of the Munster man. Looking at the photo and footage yesterday it does not look good!

Looks like the new Championship is up in the air again … this is getting beyond a farce! It seems the Premiership are deeply opposed to plans to introduce play offs into the new second tier competition. The Premiership believe that determining a single promotion place though Play Off’s is unfair and that taking on such a system would compromise their notional 13th club making a swift return to the Premiership following relegation. The RFU believe they are on firm ground with regards to their initial proposals and will push ahead.

In response to this the clubs are threatening to withdraw their


Season highlights DVD including the “try of the season”

Posted under Match Highlights by admin on Wednesday 6 May 2009 at 12:00 am

Craig Bonds scintillating team try against Blackheath in January has been unanimously awarded the Try of the Season.

It features amongst 67 tries on the season highlights DVD available now.

Priced at


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There are 232 players from the 13 match day 22-man squads who own Heineken Cup final winners’ medals – 42 have two medals and Cedric Heymans is out on his own with three (with Brive in 1997 and Toulouse in 2003 and 2005).
Leinster are the 14th team to contest a Heineken Cup final