Six head west to the Pirates

By Mark Stevens
6/8/21

Six of Exeter Chiefs highly-rated young players are to hone their rugby development in the RFU Championship with the Cornish Pirates.

Lewis Pearson, Patrick Schickerling, Cory Teague and Tommy Wyatt – all of whom featured for the Pirates last season – will spend another season at the Mennaye on dual-registered terms.

However, they will be joined for the 2021/22 season by props James Kenny and Alfie Petch.

The Chiefs contingent will all be hoping to play their part for the Pirates, who will build-up for the new season with pre-season friendlies against the Royal Navy on September 3 and Worcester Warriors on September 11.

The Pirates start their Championship campaign at home to Richmond on September 18.

Over the years the Chiefs and the Pirates have enjoyed a superb working relationship, which has seen the likes of Dave Ewers, Stu Townsend, Jack Yeandle, Sam Simmonds, Tom Hendrickson, Jack Innard, Harvey Skinner and Billy Keast all head west.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs can confirm that centre Corey Baldwin has left the club to re-join former club Scarlets.

The 22-year-old - who joined the Devon club ahead of the 2020/21 season - returns to Parc Y Scarlets after just one year, having made just five Gallagher Premiership appearances.

Baldwin said: “I’ve missed being in and around my home club and being part of the Scarlets family and I’m excited to be back. It’s an exciting time for the club, there is a great buzz about the place and it is clear Scarlets have ambitions to be competing with the top sides in the new United Rugby Championship and in Europe. I’d like to thank Exeter for allowing me to return to my home club and wish them well for the season ahead.”

Baldwin joins another former Chief, Tom Price, in signing for the Welsh region this summer.