Cornish Pirates

Heineken Cup In Cornwall - Nov 2006

The 'Heineken Cup Trophy Tour' arrived in Cornwall on Friday

Its first official stop being Land's End.

Recognised as the most prestigious club rugby trophy in the world, which is presently held by mighty Munster, the Heineken Cup is on a 1500-mile journey around England, the idea behind the tour to take the trophy out onto the road in the country that is hosting the 2007 final.

Photographed with the cup at Land's End were former England internationals John Collins (Camborne), Kenny Plummer (Penryn & Bristol), Robin Cowling (Leicester) and "Stack" Stevens (Pirates).

Robin, besides being a coach with the Cornish Pirates, is the SWERA Manager based at Truro College, while "Stack" (25 caps 1969-75) also played for the British Lions in 1971.

On Friday afternoon the trophy was transported to Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Restaurant at Newquay, "Pirate" player representatives Nick Makin, Grant Anderson, Joe Beardshaw and Chris Cracknell photographed there with staff members.

Redruth is the planned Saturday afternoon stop, the men from "Hell Fire corner" taking on Halifax in National 2, and on Sunday the magnificent trophy will be at the Recreation Ground, Camborne, displayed firstly in hospitality prior to the Cornish Pirates versus Waterloo game, before then being paraded in front of the crowd at half-time.

The Cup At Camborne

The Heineken Cup's visit to Cornwall will surely raise hopes that one day a team from the Duchy will compete against the best in Europe for the trophy - it a dream certainly to behold.