THE Cornish Pirates have announced that a number of key players have extended their stay at the Mennaye Field.

With two games remaining, the West Cornwall outfit are three points off the Champ Rugby play-offs, and know that victories over third-placed Coventry and sixth-placed Hartpury would see them get there.

They have this weekend off before entertaining Coventry on May 2 (2.30pm).

The club, however, have been busy ensuring joint head coaches Gavin Cattle and Alan Paver are keeping the majority of the squad together for next season.

The first to commit was Welsh fly-half Arwel Robson who has formed a fine partnership with half-back partner Dan Hiscocks, who is another to extend his stay at the Mennaye Field.

Robson re-joined the Pirates last summer and has made 21 appearances so far this term and racked up 91 points, while

Hiscocks has often captained the side in the absence of Alex Everett, and last season was named in the Championship team of the season.

He has continued that fine form into this year and so far has 19 tries in 56 appearances.

Behind those two, supporters can also expect to see more of centre Joe Elderkin, winger Arthur Relton and versatile Australian Angus Mawson.

Truro-born Elderkin recently made his 100th appearance for the club and is the second-longest serving player having made his debut in 2021.

Winger Relton is another player to come from the Duchy and since arriving as a dual-registered player from Exeter Chiefs, has made Cornwall his home. So far this season he has 12 tries to his name – 39 in 76 in total – and is also known for his calmness and ability under the high ball.

Mawson came to Cornwall without a contract earlier in the season, but since a loan spell at National League Two outfit Redruth, he has become an important member of the squad, starting several games at full-back. Also a skilful option at fly-half, he has two tries from 11 appearances.

In the forwards, prop Billy Young will be another to scrummage down next season. He’s currently on a run of 53 successive matches where he’s been involved having arrived in Cornwall in the summer of 2023 following the demise of Jersey Reds, and has been described as a ‘pillar of our scrum’ by Paver who was himself a revered front row for the Pirates and Plymouth Albion. himself.

Young often packs down next to Morgan Nelson who has also extended his stay. The hooker, who re-joined the club from Premiership outfit Gloucester over the summer, has a superb try-scoring record for the Pirates having crossed the whitewash 39 times in just 69 appearances.

Behind them will be the ever-reliable Josh King. The lock is in his third season in West Cornwall – turning out 71 times so far and has 10 tries to boot. However, it is his work at the line-out and around the park which makes him a vital cog of the Pirates pack.

With eight players having committed their futures, the Pirates know that whatever happens in the coming weeks in terms of the race for the play-offs, many of their key performers will be running out again in front of the supporters next season.

However, all eyes now are on next weekend and the crunch encounter with Coventry.