Young Chiefs jump on board at Pirates

By Mark Stevens
11/2/21

Five Academy youngsters from Exeter Chiefs are to further develop their playing careers with Championship outfit, the Cornish Pirates, after agreeing dual-registered terms.

Forwards Lewis Pearson, Patrick Schickerling, Corey Teague and Charlie Wright, together with back Tom Wyatt, have all linked up with the Pirates as they prepare to resume action in the Green King Championship next month.

In what is now common practice between the two clubs, the Chiefs send a number of their highly-rated youngsters down to the Duchy in a bid to expose them to the demands of the Championship.

In the past, the likes of Jack Nowell, Sam Simmonds, Stu Townsend, Sam Hill, Dave Ewers and Jack Yeandle - to name but a few - have all used their opportunity with the Pirates to get some much-needed game time under their belts.

Now, the current quintet will be looking to follow suit, starting with the Cornish club’s opening game of the new season against former Premiership and European champions Saracens on Saturday, March 6 (3pm).

Chiefs Academy manager, Rob Gibson, said: “It’s great that we are again working so closely with the Pirates in terms of helping develop some of our younger players. We know from past experience that it is a ‘win-win’ for both parties.

“Not only are we helping bolster the Pirates playing ranks with quality young players, but in turn they are getting the chance to play some high grade rugby in the Championship against some very good teams.

“The Championship, we know, is a great breeding ground for future Premiership players and we have every confidence that our five lads will learn plenty off the likes of Gavin Cattle and Alan Paver during their time down in Cornwall.”

Equally, Pirates’ joint head coach, Alan Paver, added: “Obviously our relationship with Exeter Chiefs is strong and has stood the test of time.We have pleasingly had a part to play in the development of their past young talent, some of whom have gone on and done some amazing things in the Premiership and for England.

“The present crew all have a great attitude and work ethic and considering this difficult time, where the future wasn’t as clear as it now is, they have applied themselves really well and we welcome them with open arms.

“They have bolstered the numbers so we can now train effectively, and we can only expect good things as the cohorts before them showed.”

Meanwhile, scrum-half Joe Snow has agreed a similar move to the quintet, linking up with former Chiefs flanker James Scaysbrook at Coventry.