Riglesford Signs Professional Contract with Cornish Pirates

The Cornish Pirates have signed scrum half Will Riglesford after his impressive pre-season performances. Riglesford, a Royal Navy Engineering Technician and experienced UK Armed Forces player, joins the team as he transitions to full-time professional rugby.

The Cornish Pirates have officially announced the signing of scrum half Will Riglesford, following his impressive performances in the club's pre-season fixtures. Riglesford, 26, who hails from Southampton, featured in all three of the Pirates' pre-season games, demonstrating what he is capable of to earn a professional contract with the Championship side.

In addition to his rugby career, Will serves as an Engineering Technician Marine Engineer in the Royal Navy. He has also represented the Royal Navy on the rugby field and captained the Royal Navy 7s team. Riglesford's experience extends to playing for the UK Armed Forces (UKAF) team, further demonstrating his leadership and versatility on the pitch.

Cornish Pirates' joint head coach, Gavin Cattle, expressed his excitement about Will's signing, commenting, "Training pre-season with us on trial, Will has shown he has a great work ethic and a lot of character, and we are delighted to officially welcome him into the squad."

Gavin emphasised the value of Riglesford’s presence, adding, "As he now strengthens that nine position, we feel he is someone who will benefit from a full-time environment, whilst his signing also helps maintain that special relationship we have with the Royal Navy."

The signing is not only a significant step for Will’s rugby career but also highlights the ongoing partnership between the Cornish Pirates and the Royal Navy. As he embarks on this new chapter, Riglesford will aim to make his mark at the professional level while continuing to be a proud representative of the armed forces.

A delighted Will said "...it's a dream come true and I can't quite get my head around it yet. My goals for the season are to take on as much as I can, learn everyday, work bloody hard and see what I can achieve. Just by being in a professional environment I've already learned so much. We all know that clubs need to find that trust in players to get game time especially in the champ but I want to keep working hard, show that I want it and be in a position so when that chance comes I can take it."

Images by B Tempest, J Hulm and K Woodland