4 Sign On Again
Report by Mark Stevens
WHEN Stan McKeen headed across the Atlantic last summer - his destination the far South West of England - the all-action Canadian admits he had little idea just what lay in store for him.
Fast forward the clock a few months and the powerful back-row forward admits his decision to up sticks from Vancouver to his new playing home in Cornwall has been a smart one.
Having never tasted the rigours of English rugby before, the 24-year-old has taken to the game over here with consummate ease. A regular in the Cornish Pirates pack this season, McKeen has racked up 21 appearances to date, scoring three tries along the way.
His efforts on the field have helped guide the Duchy's premier club to fourth in National League One, as well as the last four of the EDF Energy National Trophy. But as McKeen and his fellow Pirates well know, richer rewards lie on the horizon.
Certainly the next fortnight will prove pivotal in the fortunes of the Cornish club. This Sunday they welcome Rotherham to the Recreation Ground in a game which will be beamed live to the world by Sky TV.
A week later and Plymouth Albion make the short trek across the Tamar for their Trophy semi-final date, which will act as round two a scheduled three-match series.
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| L-R: Dan Seal, Joe Beardshaw, Stan Mckeen, Tim Cowley |
For McKeen, who together with fellow forwards Dan Seal, Tim Cowley and Joe Beardshaw yesterday all agreed new contracts with the Pirates for next season, it promises to be an exciting time.
"I've had a really good year so far, but it could be even better what with the games we have coming up," said McKeen. "Coming over here at the start of the season I didn't know quite what to expect.
"It was a case of coming into the unknown, I didn't know too much about the Pirates or Penzance for that matter, but since I've been here I've really enjoyed myself and my rugby."
However, McKeen believes he has added new dimensions to his game, ones he hopes he will be able to showcase in the forthcoming World Cup in France this summer. He added: "My game has definitely improved and I'm doing a lot more over here than I was back home. I carry the ball a lot more now and I'm jumping more in the lineouts, which is all good.
"I'm on the long list for the Canadian squad, but we'll have to see what happens with that. For now, all I'm really focusing on is doing well for the Pirates."
Together with Seal, Cowley and Beardshaw, McKeen is the latest in a line of the current Pirates first team squad to subscribe to another year with the ambitious National One club.
"Getting my contract sorted now takes a great weight off your shoulders," added McKeen. "I'm very happy at the club and the supporters here are just unbelievable. The knowledge of the average fan is something else. You can run into them in the street, the pub, wherever, and they'll talk to you about the game. They read the game so well, so it's really refreshing to talk to everyone down here."
Like McKeen, his fellow team-mates are also glad to have put pen to paper. The signatures of the quartet yesterday mean coach Jim McKay has now netted 13 of his current first team squad for next season.
In each case, all the players have bought into the forward-thinking vision of McKay and club president Dicky Evans.
"The club are very ambitious and I want to be part of that," said Seal, who is now into his sixth season with the Pirates. "Every year I have been here the club have progressed and moved on. Cornwall is like my second home. I've been here for a while now, so I'm settled and just want to keep improving my game and help the club develop."
Fellow forward Beardshaw is another who is keen to build on what has been two highly successful seasons with the Pirates.
"I'm very pleased to have signed on again," said the towering lock, who joined the club from Scottish outfit Glasgow. "As a professional rugby player you're always on short-term contracts, so it's great that I've been able to sort out my future now. It's a big relief.
"I think it's good that the club have been able to get so many of the boys signed on for next season - it will certainly help in terms of preparation for next season."
Having played in the Premiership for Wasps, Beardshaw knows what it takes to get amongst English rugby's elite clubs. He added: "If you look at the sides that have done well over the years, they've always been able to keep a side together and keep a core of say 25 players."
Another signing on the dotted line yesterday was back-row powerhouse Cowley, who is into his third season with the Pirates.
He said: "To sign again for the Pirates was not a difficult choice, the ambition of the players, the coaching staff and all involved at the club is positive. We are all looking forward to the challenge of maintaining momentum acquired both on and off the field. Cornwall is also a wonderful place to live, its people deserving to have a rugby team competing at the highest level."
