Sam
Raven Suffering more than their
share of injuries in this 2008-09 campaign, the Cornish Pirates decided early
in January to welcome on board 26 years old Sam Raven to the end of the season. A
gifted lock, Sam is an experienced National One performer who had three years
with Nottingham and then a brief spell with Rotherham Titans. When Sam's signing
was officially announced, Cornish Pirates CEO Rod Coward commented: "We have
been interested in Sam Raven for some time and when we heard that he might be
available we felt that he would be an ideal recruit to our squad and would solve
our present injury problems. I'm grateful to Rotherham Titans for the way they
have cooperated in the process of signing Sam." Sam
first played rugby at mini-juniors level for Hinckley, which is a club that has
produced many fine players, including Dean Richards, Graham Rowntree and Ollie
Smith. He attended John Cleveland College and then became a member of the Leicester
Tigers Academy along with the likes of James Hamilton and Cornish Pirates prop
Peter Cook.. Leaving Leicester in 2004, he had a spell playing
for the Nelson club in New Zealand, travelling there with present Nottingham fly-half
Tim Taylor. It was a move organised by former All Blacks and Leicester player
Josh Kronfeld, and Sam also worked there in a vineyard. When
playing at Nottingham he became a regular first team player. Indeed in 2007-08
he featured in every league game for the 'Green & Whites', and scored an impressive10
tries - including what proved a match winner in their 21-20 victory against us
at the 'Rec'. The highlight of Sam's career is obvious,
and it recent, as back in October he was loaned to Leicester to play for them
in an EDF Energy Cyp match at Bath. Partnering Ben Kay in the second-row, and
with his good friend Brett Deacon also playing for the Tigers that day, he starred
in a superb 19-15 points victory. Can it get better? Well, time will tell, but
with it known that Sam is keen to make his mark with us and to suitably impress
in our challenge to climb further up the league ladder by the season's end. | 
