Cornwall R.L.F.C.

Cornwall RLFC
Club information
Full nameCornwall Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)Choughs
ColoursBlack and Gold
Founded2021; 3 years ago (2021)
Websitewww.cornwallrlfc.co.uk
Current details
Ground(s)
CoachMike Abbott
CaptainLiam Whitton
CompetitionRFL League 1

Cornwall RLFC is a British professional rugby league team based in Penryn, Cornwall, England. They play their home matches at Penryn RFC's Memorial Ground and compete in League One the third tier of British rugby league.

History

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2019–20: Ottawa Aces

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Original Ottawa bid logo

It was first announced in March 2019 that a consortium from Canada, led by Toronto Wolfpack founder Eric Perez, had purchased the Rugby Football League membership of club Hemel Stags and planned to relocate their licence to Canada.[3]

More due diligence took place during 2019 to decide if the club was ready to join League 1 for the 2020 season along with the New York City Rugby League,[4] however at the end of July 2019 it was announced that the club would not enter the league in 2020 and would instead work towards joining the league in 2021.[5]

On 9 March 2020, Ottawa announced they would push back their debut season and enter League 1 in 2021.[6] However, due to travel restrictions between Canada and the United Kingdom resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Aces and the RFL agreed to defer entry to the League 1 another year again, until 2022.[7]

Come March 2021, it was announced Ottawa would compete in the newly founded North America Rugby League along with the Toronto Wolfpack, however Perez said the club still expected to play in League 1 in 2022 and suggested the club could play as a 2nd team in the NARL.

On 22 October 2021, it was announced that Ottawa Aces would relocate back to the United Kingdom permanently due the "unstable operating environment" of running a club in the British leagues from Canada during a pandemic.[8] They would also withdraw from the NARL effectively disbanding as the Ottawa Aces.

2021–present: Relocation to Cornwall

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On 2 November 2021 the club was officially relocated to Penryn, Cornwall and rebranded as Cornwall RLFC. The club were allocated a place in Betfred League 1, the third tier of the British rugby league system.[9]

On 8 December 2021 it was announced that Neil Kelly had been appointed as head coach,[10] and Anthony Mullally, a former Super League winner with Leeds Rhinos and Ireland international was the first player signing.[11]

Players

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Current squad

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Squad for 2022 RFL League 1;

Cornwall RLFC League 1 Squad

Fullbacks

  • England Liam Whitton

Wingers

  • England Harry Aaronson
  • England Coby Nichol
  • England Nick Slaney
  • Turkey Errol Carter
  • England Callum Abbott

Centres

  • England Decarlo Trerise
  • England Tom Ashton
  • England Reece Boase
  • England Sean Croston


Standoffs (Five-Eighths)

  • Australia Cam Brown
  • England Morgan Punchard

Halfbacks

  • England Adam Rusling

Props

  • Republic of Ireland Jack Ray
  • England Josh Hartshorne
  • England Brad Howe
  • Wales Harry Boots
  • Wales Ewan Badham
  • Wales Ieuan Badham

Hookers

  • Australia Luke Collins
  • Malta Louis Singleton
  • England Sam Gilder
  • England Jaden Barraclough

Second Rows

  • Wales Charlie Bodman
  • England Nathan Cullen
  • England George Mitchell
  • Malta Kaine Dimech
  • England David Weetman
  • England Nathan Newbound

Loose forwards

  • England Jake Lloyd
  • England Jamie Prisk

Coaches

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Seasons

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Season League Play-offs Challenge Cup
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos
2022 League 1 20 1 0 19 276 864 2 10th Did not qualify Did not participate
2023 League 1 18 5 0 13 257 712 10 9th Did not qualify R2
2024 League One 20 3 0 17 306 787 6 8th Did not qualify R3

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Band of Brothers - Lions of '71 roar one more time". ESPN. 28 May 2008.
  2. ^ "Penryn denied by last-gasp penalty". South West Farmers. 17 October 2007.
  3. ^ "Toronto Wolfpack founder looking to bring rugby league team to Ottawa". globalnews.ca. 21 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Overseas clubs - What happens next". RFL. 12 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Ottawa miss out on 2020 arrival". Total Rugby League. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  6. ^ "Eric Perez unveils 2021 League 1 expansion team Ottawa Aces". Rugby League Hub. 9 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Ottawa Aces: Canadian club defer League One entry until 2022". BBC Sport. 5 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Ottawa Aces forced to relocate to the UK in sensational move". 22 October 2021.
  9. ^ Cornwall to host new professional rugby league team after Ottawa plans shelved
  10. ^ "Neil Kelly: Cornwall RLFC appoint ex-Widnes coach for inaugural season". BBC Sport. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Cornwall make Anthony Mullally first signing". Love Rugby League. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
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