Four players from Saltash RFC were among a group of 30 who took part in the opening Cornwall county training session of the season at Perranporth.

Ryan Rayner, Lewis Wells, Will Morton and Kieran Down had been invited by the Cornwall selectors, who have travelled around the county watching numerous club matches and picking out those who caught the eye.

Led by head coach Graham Dawe, and assisted by Rhodri McAtee, the players were put through their paces with a skills session, handling drills, followed by decision making in game scenarios and defensive formations.

Sunday, May 27 is the date for the 2018 County Championship Final of the Bill Beaumont Cup, the highest level of county rugby in this country. The Cornwall team has reached this final for the last five years so it has become an expectation from the loyal fans of Trelawny’s Army that it will happen again.

With some of last year’s Cornwall team, who lost 19-8 to Lancashire at Twickenham, now unavailable for various reasons, there are places up for grabs in the squad so, as expected, competition for places will be quite intense.

Before the session, Dawe addressed the assembled players with the message that the Cornwall team is a revolving door, players leave, players come in, but the one thing that remains the same is that supporters expect Cornwall to do well in the County Championship.

Graham also said he wants to see if these players can buy into the Cornish culture and he is looking for the next players to wear the famous Black & Gold.

Talking generally about rugby, Dawe added: ‘Life is about enthusiasm and passion and I love seeing young players fulfil their potential.’

After a further training session on Monday, November 13, a Cornwall Development XV will be selected to play Launceston at Polson Bridge on Saturday, November 18. More details will be released through the CRFU website and local press.

Bill Beaumont Cup fixtures. Saturday, May 5: Cornwall v Surrey (at Redruth); Saturday, May 12: Cornwall v Devon (at Camborne); Saturday, May 19: Hertfordshire v Cornwall (at Bishop Stortford); Sunday, May 27: Final (at Twickenham).