Cornish Pirates Director of Rugby Ian Davies has confirmed that the club has secured the services of nine players on dual-registration terms from Exeter Chiefs for the forthcoming Greene King Championship season, writes Dick Straughan.
He had initially expected Chiefs boss Rob Baxter to wait towards the end of pre-season before confirming the availability of players outside of the immediate first team squad, but the deal has been agreed with three new faces as well as six players returning for a second season at the Mennaye Field.
Full-back Max Bodilly, centre Tom Hendrickson and back row Matt Bolwell all featured heavily in the Pirates end of season fixtures during the last campaign, while prop Kieran Davies made 13 appearances in Pirates colours.
Talented back row Joel Conlon also returns to Cornwall after being a member of the England Under-20 squad which retained the IRB Junior World Championship earlier in the summer.
Lock Will Carrick-Smith will bolster the club`s second row options as he re-joins on a season long loan.
The new faces are fly-half Laurence May, scrum-half Stuart Townsend and hooker Jack Innard.
Barnstaple born May, 19, is yet to make his senior debut for the Chiefs but has played for their Academy side and just enjoyed a successful season in National Three South with Newton Abbott.
Townsend, also 19, hails from Torbay and has represented England at age-grade level up to and including the Under-20`s. He began his rugby career at Kingsbridge and made his senior Chiefs debut against London Welsh in an LV= Cup tie during the 2012/13 season.
Local lad Innard joined the Pirates on his 20th birthday having also played for the Chiefs Academy and LV= Cup sides. Born in Truro he grew up in Falmouth and has represented Cornwall at Under-20 level.
