Stirling aims to make Pirates ‘world class’
BACK as director of rugby seven years after leaving Cornwall – partly in frustration as plans for a new stadium stalled – Chris Stirling is confident Cornish Pirates are finally in a good place to progress.
The Stadium for Cornwall is back on track and when the financial woes of Yorkshire Carnegie left Stirling looking for a new challenge, Pirates owner and benefactor Dicky Evans was quick to bring him back to the club.
“It just felt right coming back here,” Stirling said. “It’s a great place and it formed some of my most valuable rugby memories and it’s an exciting time to come back.”
The Pirates have brought in 13 new players this summer, including five who became free agents as a result of Carnegie’s problems, as Stirling looks to build on the work done by joint head coaches Gavin Cattle, Alan Paver and assistant Chris Morgan.
“Gav, Paves and Chris and the support staff and the players have provided a platform that is so solid and so sound that moving it forward and taking it to the next level is not going to be an issue,” he said.
“How we do it will be the challenge but it’s a fantastic platform to launch from.
“The coaching staff, the support, the players, the club and Dicky have all worked really hard to make this club what it is.
“They have done a magnificent job and I can’t overestimate the work they have done over the last few years. The culture and the environment is one of the best I’ve ever been involved with.”
Stirling’s focus for growth spreads beyond Pirates and he explained: “We value the community, and rugby in Cornwall, and we are going to do our best to make sure that what we do helps to grow the game in the county.
“This is the County Championship province of England. If they are strong, we’re strong and if we’re strong we can keep the county strong. It’s a real focus for us moving forward.”
Looking back he said: “I can honestly say that coming through various channels of rugby and being involved with Pirates from 2009 through 2012 was a fantastic experience.
“Going back to New Zealand and experiencing professional environements there, going to Yorkshire Carnegie and experiencing something slightly different but very challenging and then coming back here, everything that I value and try to strive for in a rugby environment is here in spades.
“We’ve got some work to do to take it to the next level but everyone is pushing in the right direction.”
Stirling knows that emulating Devon neighbours Exeter by reaching the Premiership – and establishing themselves there – is a huge ask. The first aim is to better last year’s fifth-place Championship finish but he stressed: “This year’s goal is entwined with the longer term plan. Is it to finish better than fifth? Yes – but ultimately it is to play at the next level.
“We’re in the process of identifying how we establish a true vision for the club and put that into a full strategic plan.
“I’ve spoken to Gav and Paves and we’ll have some long conversations about what that looks like but it will be something like ‘Let’s try and make the Pirates world class’.”