Joining
the Cornish Pirates from Harlequins in 2007, the loose-head prop, formerly of
Leicester, is someone who made his Premiership debut for the Tigers aged 19, coincidentally
against the 'Quins, propping against England legend Jason Leonard. On
leaving Leicester, Peter played against the Pirates twice when with Nottingham
in 2005-06, him rated as one of the very best props in the league, and he also
appeared against us again when on loan to the 'Green & Whites' at Meadow Lane
in November, 2006. He started playing rugby with Broadstreet
at the tender age of 5, a club which also produced Adam Balding who, incidentally,
had also gone to the same school as Peter - Caludon Castle, Coventry. It was from
there that he was selected for England Schools 16 Group, playing in the same team
as Cornishmen Adryan Winnan and Jason Hobson, plus former 'Pirate' Ryan Peacey. He
wrote to Leicester asking for a trial, proudly becoming a Tiger, and also later
attending Loughborough College part-time, successfully completing a course on
physical training. The Cook family, with teacher parents
Ken and Sue keen on the outdoor life, have often visited Cornwall over the years,
staying at Lower Treave, St. Buryan, occasions which gave Peter the opportunity
to pursue his surfing hobby at such wonderful beaches as Sennen and Gwenver. He
also remembers watching his home city of Coventry playing a pre-season 'friendly'
at the Mennaye Field when on holiday in 1998, not realising then that he would
one day play for us. Any stay in Cornwall was always a highlight,
but on the rugby front his outstanding personal memory is enjoying the experience
of entering a changing room alongside such world greats as Martin Johnson and
Josh Kronfeld on that occasion when he was about to play his first game for the
Tigers. Special? Yes, that had to be! Peter made 23 appearances
for the Cornish Pirates in 2007-08, and also did excellent work in the community,
it no surprise that he was the club's first ever Community Player of the Year. |
