THE Cornish Pirates will play their penultimate match in Pool 4 of this season’s British & Irish Cup on Sunday.

Their opponents are Nottingham Rugby and the kick-off is at 3pm.

Presently second-placed in Pool 4, this encounter has real importance for the Pirates, as the team has aspirations to progress in the competition.

It will also be remembered, of course, that the Cornish Pirates were proudly the first ever winners of the trophy, having beaten Munster 23-14 at Camborne in 2010.

Tickets for the game against Nottingham can be purchased at the gates on the day, but the advice is to purchase them in advance or online. For further information please visit www.cornish-pirates.com/tickets

Advance Adult and Concession tickets are also on sale during the season from Rowe's Bakers at Camborne - Commercial Square, Falmouth - Market Street, Helston - Meneage Street, Penzance - Causewayhead and Market Jew Street,

Redruth - Fore Street, Truro - Victoria Square and Piazza, Back Quay.

Following the match against Nottingham the Cornish Pirates will play their final pool game away to the present Pool 4 leaders, London Welsh, on Saturday week, the 23rd January (ko 2pm).

The 2015-16 British & Irish Cup structure involves 12 Greene King IPA Championship clubs, four Welsh Regional Premiership squads, and four Irish provinces.

There are five pools comprising Pool 1: Ealing Trailfinders, Moseley, Leinster 'A', Rotherham Titans; Pool 2: Bedford Blues, Scarlets Premiership Select, Bristol Rugby, Ulster Ravens; Pool 3: Ospreys Premiership Select, Yorkshire Carnegie, Munster 'A', London Scottish; Pool 4: Nottingham Rugby, Cardiff Blues Premiership Select, London Welsh, Cornish Pirates; Pool 5: Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership Select, Connacht Eagles, Doncaster Knights, Jersey RFC.

The top side in each pool will progress to the knock-out stage, plus the three best runners-up, to make up the eight quarter-finalists, with the teams ranked 1-4 having home advantage.

The quarter-finals are scheduled to take place on weekend 11/12/13 March, 2016, the semi-finals on 18/19/20 March, and the final on the weekend 8/9/10 April.