Truro and Penwith College Alumni Leading the Way with the Cornish Pirates

Truro and Penwith College is proud to reaffirm its long-standing partnership with the Cornish Pirates, announcing another year as Official Partner of the club for the 2025/26 season.

The College has supported the Pirates for over a decade, and in that time has become a proven pathway for Cornish students to reach professional sport. Today, the connection is stronger than ever, with a growing number of former students not only training with but starring for the Pirates squad.

At the kit launch for the new season, the scale of that success was clear: multiple players proudly wearing the 2025/26 strip began their journey at Truro and Penwith College.

Martin Tucker, College Principal, said: “We are delighted to continue our official partnership with the Cornish Pirates, a team that embodies Cornish pride and ambition. This relationship isn’t just about logos on shirts — it’s about creating real opportunities. Our students can see a direct line from their studies and training at the College to competing on the professional stage. That inspiration is invaluable, and it’s something  the college is proud to offer.”

Ross Hancock, Head of Commercial & Communications at the Cornish Pirates, added: “This partnership is synonymous with the club. Truro and Penwith has consistently developed some of Cornwall’s best rugby talent, and the alumni in our current squad prove the impact of this collaboration.”

Current squad members Joe and Barnaby Elderkin (Fly-Half/Centre and Flanker), alongside fellow alumnus Ben Woodmansey (Prop), are among the latest players to make the transition from the College’s Rugby Academy to the professional game. Their stories highlight the opportunities on offer — from international tours to high-performance training — that set Truro and Penwith College students apart.

Speaking at the kit launch they said: “Studying at Truro and Penwith College gave us incredible exposure to what rugby is really like. The link with Exeter Chiefs made the programme feel so professional, even while we were still in college. We were lucky enough to experience amazing opportunities, from tours to South Africa, Dubai and Canada, to competing at the invitational Sanix Junior Rugby Tournament in Japan. The trips weren’t just incredible, they were enriching in culture and taught us so much. I absolutely loved College and would go back in a heartbeat. My tutors were so inspiring.”

Ben Woodmansey, Sport Science and Rugby Academy alumnus and now Cornish Pirates Prop, added: “Truro and Penwith College was instrumental in helping me become a professional rugby player. The teaching around sport, physiotherapy and nutrition was second to none, and the support I received throughout my time there was exceptional. I simply wouldn’t be where I am today without the college.”

The partnership ensures the College brand will continue to be proudly displayed on the Pirates’ shirts and across the Mennaye Field this season, while opening even more doors for future students eager to combine academic success with elite sporting ambition.