We can’t wait to play Exeter now says Pirates boss Dicky
DICKY Evans, director of the Cornish Pirates and a driving force behind the Stadium for Cornwall, insists the Pirates could host a Premiership derby against Exeter as early as 2022 after funding for the project was finally secured.
Evans, who has fought a 12-year battle to have the stadium built, admits he shed tears of joy last Tuesday when councillors voted 69-41 in favour of providing the extra £3m required to make up the £14.3m required for construction work to begin.
In conjunction with Truro City FC and Truro and Penwith College, Pirates expect their new home to be available during the 2019-20 season, after which Evans insists attention will quickly turn to building a club capable of being promoted to the top-flight. Evans told The Rugby
Paper: “I don’t think Exeter will be scared of the Pirates and we’ve got huge respect for what they’ve done, but it would be great if we could have derbies against them again in four years and give them a run for their money.
“We’d like to stop the brain drain from Cornwall – the Jack Nowells, Luke Cowan-Dickies and co who are Cornish boys – and the challenge now is to build a squad while getting the ground built, and then we’ve got to really go for Premiership rugby.
“It was a fantastic decision by the council. Throughout the meeting I sat next to Brian ‘Stack’ Stevens’ widow, Jane, and we had a big cry when it was over. It took us 12 years but it was a huge day for Cornwall and I’m so happy we got there in the end.”
With stadium plans including a hotel, conference facilities and retail, Pirates hope to raise an additional £4m through selling shares to aid team building.
At a time when Premiership ring-fencing remains a threat, Evans said:
“I remember saying when Exeter built their new ground at Sandy Park that it was a very brave thing to do because there was talk of ring-fencing then, but they put an end to that.
“We’ve got to do the same now and I believe we’ve got the right people in place to do it. We’ve got great coaches in Alan Paver and Gavin Cattle, two very loyal guys, and our off-field plans will give them the resources they need to build a team.”