Tyro Chiefs power Pirates title charge
Mike Sinclair talks to Alfie Petch, one of six Exeter lads on dual-registration with Cornish Pirates
Exeter’s former England U20 tighthead Alfie Petch has followed the diagnosis from the “maul doctor” and headed for the Championship on a dual-registration with the Cornish Pirates.
While his mentor, Welsh international Thomas Francis, has joined the Ospreys in order to keep playing for Wales, Bude-born 21 year old Petch has taken his advice in search of match action in Cornwall as the Pirates look to mount a serious challenge for the title.
Petch and fellow prop prospect James Kenny, who played in the same front row for England U20s, are two of the six Exeter players dual-registered with the Pirates for next season.
Petch, whose game time at Sandy Park was restricted by the presence of Francis, below, and Harry Williams, said: “Both of them said to me that they had gone into the Champ when they started off at 21, 22. Franny only turned professional when he was 22 and he went to Doncaster and said it was the best experience. Franny’s probably the best one to talk to because he has so much international experience. He’s the maul doctor – oh my God, he can maul and he’s so solid.
“He’s so friendly to talk to because he understands where you’ve come from and he’s still young. It’s a massive shame he’s gone but I still talk to him.”
Those conversations included the advice to go and “learn his trade” in the second tier of English rugby.
“He was right. I think that just about every tighthead that has played for England has played a year or two in the Championship,” said Petch. “I got a lot from Franny, he’s a big, chunky boy like me so I just got to learn and learn and learn.”
The 19st 7lbs Petch is relishing the opportunity to learn from Alan Paver at the Mannaye, the Pirates joint head coach and front row guru.
“I hope to get a good amount of games and just enjoy working here on my home turf and learn loads from Paves,” he said.
“I was travelling reserve for the whole of last year. It was a really good experience being around world-class boys but I wasn’t playing much.
“Harry Williams is still good enough for England and he’s fighting for his place but as he hasn’t been called up much that’s messed me up because I couldn’t go on loan or anything like that.”
While accepting that if he had been at a lesser club than Exeter he would probably have had more game time, he said: “But then I wouldn’t have learned the little tips.But now I’ve come here to play rugby and really enjoy myself again. I need to get my hands on the ball and throw it around.
“Jay Tyack played well here and he’s in the Premiership with Worcester now and I want to follow in his footsteps and become a Premiership player.
“I watch the
Championship all the time and that’s where you learn your trade and if you can play Championship week in, week out then the Premiership’s easy – apart from the pace but you can learn that.
“Talking to the other boys here, Paves sounds like one of the best coaches around. I’d been here for one week and I’d learned so much because he’s so detailed and I aim to keep learning. People come in and people go because you learn your trade with Paves and move on.”
Tom Kessell (Bristol) and Calum Sirker (Wasps) are two of the other eye-catching signings at Pirates while Arwel Robson, Ed Scragg and Carwyn Penny arrive from the Dragons.
Elsewhere in the Championship, former England lock
Mouritz Botha has returned to the coaching set-up at Ampthill who have also recruited former Gloucester fans’ favourite Henry Trinder as player-coach. The centre, 32, made 122 appearances
for the Cherry and Whites prior to crossing the Channel last year to sign with Pro D2 outfit RC Vannes.
Premiership quality has also arrived at Bedford Blues with the arrivals of Tui Uru and Bailey Ransom, while Coventry have secured the signing of Leicester back Sam Aspland-Robinson and Hartpury hand a homecoming to England U20s fly-half Tommy Mathews, who joins from Northampton.
Veteran No.8 Mark Bright, 42, awaits season number 20 of his remarkable career after making the switch from London Scottish to fellow RAG tenants Richmond, bringing some more welcome experience to Steve Hill’s squad which saw stalwart Rob Kirby retire.
Ealing Trailfinders, last season’s losing finalists to Saracens in June, have recruited heavily from both hemispheres. Their outreach to South Africa has seen the quartet of Jan-Henning Campher, Len Massyn, both previously of Sigma Lions, and university prospects Gary Porter and Jared Rees head to Vallis Way.
While closer to home, the signing of Reuben Bird-Tulloch in May signalled the start of an overhaul of 28 players in total. Front row stars Elliot Millar-Mills and Johannes Jonker earned moves to the Premiership, and Guy Thompson found the trail home to Jersey.
Like Ealing, Doncaster have lost key members of their pack to the draw of a move higher up in the departures of Robin Hislop and Will Britton to Wasps and Gloucester, respectively.
But head coach Steve Boden has kept an eye on talent elsewhere in the second tier with the double signing of Bedford Blues duo Henry Paul and Joe Wrafter among five others to join the Knights squad. Backline additions of Harry Davey, Maliq Holden, Fraser Strachan and Alex Dolly have also been welcomed at Castle Park, while Richmond flanker George Oram will be in the pack.
Scrum-half Dolly was a player Boden said he had been tracking for more than two years upon signing the Nottingham back.
Confirmation of transfers at Nottingham are yet to be announced as club legend Craig Hammond takes over the reins as head coach from Neil Fowkes, who has joined Wasps permanently.
On top of Australia-born Dolly, lock Luke Frost, flanker Willie Ryan and full-back Tom Benjamin have departed the club who finished tenth in the standings last season and are aiming for better.