Cian Romaine has signed a two-year contract with te Cornish Pirates, writes Phil Westren.

Aged 23, the London-born 6’ 5” forward will be arriving from Yorkshire Carnegie who he joined during last season.

After first taking up the game of rugby when at St. Benedict’s School in Ealing, Cian’s grandfather also took him along to Ealing Trailfinders, where he played from the age of 11 to 17.

On finishing school, a move to Ireland followed to attend the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology in Connacht, where he also spent four years in the Connacht Academy and played his club rugby for Buccaneers. Featuring for Ireland at under 19 level, he also went on to play for the under 20s side, gaining six caps and representing them at the World Championship in Italy in 2015.

At the end of his time in the Connacht Academy, an opportunity arose to move to New Zealand where he continued his rugby development. Cian went to Dunedin and played with Kaikorai which he described was an ‘awesome experience’. He then returned to Ireland to study at a AIT higher education institution and play another season with Buccaneers before returning to New Zealand and playing for Takapuna and North Harbour Bs, from where he joined Yorkshire Carnegie.

Cornish Pirates’ Director of Rugby Chris Stirling said: “Cian is a young utility lock/loose forward, who is very physical in carry, clean and tackle and will be a positive addition to the Pirates squad. He fits the desired player profile and has outstanding personal character and work ethic.”

Cian said: “I’m really excited at the prospect of joining up with the squad and getting pre-season underway.

“The Cornish Pirates are a great team with a really good philosophy and I’m really looking forward to working with all the coaching staff and meeting with the players. The plans and ambition they have for the future also impress me and it’s something I really want to be a part of!”

The Pirates have also signed utility back Harry Davey on a three-year contract.

Joining from Yorkshire Carnegie, Dewsbury-born Harry, aged 20, is a former captain of Silcoates School in West Yorkshire. He was also a member of Yorkshire Carnegie’s under 18s team that played in Premiership Rugby’s under 18s Academy league and recognised as one of the brightest young talents in the country he became a member of the England under 18s training squad.

Having played National League level rugby with Sandal RFC, a senior debut for Yorkshire Carnegie was in March 2017, when Harry made an appearance against

London Irish in the quarter-final of the British & Irish Cup. Since then and following a number of man-of-the-match performances when dual-registered with Huddersfield RUFC, he continued to make his mark at Yorkshire Carnegie.

Stirling said: “Harry is a young, talented and exciting utility back who can play 10,11,13,14,15. He progressed through the Yorkshire Academy and pushed his way into the Championship starting team until injury ended his season. Also possessing a high level of personal character and work ethic will make him a great fit for the Pirates, resulting in an exciting future for both parties.”

Harry said: “I’m really looking forward to be joining Pirates, as soon as I heard there was an opportunity I didn’t think twice, I’ve really enjoyed seeing how Cornish play and it’s something I want to be a part of.

“The club looks like it’s going in a good direction with the new stadium, plenty of new signings and Chris Stirling coming back it was something I didn’t want to miss out on.”