Cornwall's Premier Rugby Team
Archives 2005/10
Adrian Edwards - Team Manager
Adrian was born and brought up in the Midlands, and attended Harbourne School, Birmingham.
His sporting interest as a youngster pointed towards water polo, playing for Birmingham Nechells in winter and summer leagues, and football - supporting West Bromwich Albion, with England's Jeff Astle his favourite player.
Like many of us, on leaving school Adrian worked in a number of jobs before then joining the Navy in 1984, becoming a firefighter and featuring in flight operations. He served aboard ships including the "Ark Royal" and "Invincible", and was based at such places as Yeovil and Culdrose with 845 and 824 squadrons.
During his time in the Navy , the opportunity arose to play quite a bit of rugby over a 14-year period, mostly as a hooker, but occasionally as a prop, in countries including Australia, the USA, Dubai and Hong Kong, and he also played for a United Nations XV in Croatia!
On the homefront he turned out for RNAS Culdrose, the Royal Naval Air Command, plus the Pirates and Helston. Aside from rugby, Adrian was also a Field Gun Crew member that appeared at Earl's Court on three occasions.
Nicknamed "Spade", Adrian left the Navy in 1999, taking on a role at Carn Brea Leisure Centre as Gym Manager. A year later he joined the Pirates to help out with the Colts team, which was led at that time by rugby stalwart Des Thomas. He even played against them on one occasion - helping Penryn out when they were a man short, and then aged 36!
At the end of 2000, Adrian became a physio and fitness trainer for the Pirates Chiefs, before in 2002 he took up a lecturing post with Premier Training in Exeter, teaching Sports Therapy. He did, however, still continue part-time with the Pirates, travelling to all games.
A return across the Tamar in 2003 saw Adrian work for us full-time, first as a physio and then in the responsible role of Team Manager, a post to which he most suited and still performs well today. He has gained much experience, and is wholly committed and conscientious in everything he does, also giving close attention to act as an ambassador in the community.
Besides rugby, family is important to Adrian, his days at RNAS Culdrose seeing him meet his future wife Sue at the Barn Club. The couple have two children, Molly and Jamie. Gig rowing and cycling are other pursuits enjoyed in an active life.
A highlight for Adrian, and for Molly who was our mascot on our most memorable of days, was when we beat Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham to win the EDF Energy National Trophy. Can it get any better? Time will tell
As the weeks went by the marked improvement and professionalism was there for all to see, and by the season's end we were in fourth place, a mighty achievement in only our second season in National 1.
Jim was born and educated in Sydney, growing up to enjoy surfing on its northern beaches, it no surprise that he became a lifeguard. His rugby in Australia was played at a high level, in the backs, and mainly as a wing. At Warringah he was in the same side as Topo Rodriguez, the former Argentina and 'Wallaby' front-rower.
A spell with the Gordon club followed, before then moving to Randwick, his most memorable rugby playing experience being the occasion when he made his first grade debut for this famous Australian team. Whilst at Randwick he played alongside the likes of David Campese, Eddie Jones, Phil Kearns, Ewen McKenzie, Simon Poideven, Mark and Gary Ella, plus Michael Chieka and David Knox, the present Leinster coaches.
Arriving in England in 1995, Jim held player-coach roles with Stourbridge, Norwich and North Walsham, before coaching became the number one focus for this former carpenter, who has also worked in advertising and picked fruit in Israel!
Coaching influences had been Bob Dwyer and Rod Macqueen, who have both coached Australia, Jim progressing to gain further experience at Henley, Birmingham & Solihull, and Orrell, before heading to the far south-west from Rotherham.
Off the field Jim still loves surfing (at Fistral beach, Newquay), bike riding, reading and learning, and finds living in Newquay about as close as you can get to Sydney. There is also a strong affiliation with Manly Surf Club, of which he is a member.
Having guided us to third in 2005/06, our best ever finish in a season which revealed glimpses of a bold vision for the future, a fifth place in 2006-07 was a slight disappointment, injuries having seriously taken their toll. However, to win the EDF Energy National Trophy at Twickenham, especially in consideration of the injury-crisis experienced, was a truly major achievement - something that evolved through team spirit and from leadership at the top.
Jim, who has truly embraced the Cornish way of life and would cherish becoming a family man here, holds strongly the ambition to one day take the Pirates into the Premiership. It is a dream that we all support, leaving us to simply say - good on yer mate!
