RNRU Royal Navy Rugby Union

The RNRU and the Cornish Pirates are delighted to announce that two Royal Navy Rugby players, Edd Pascoe and Timoci Kava, have signed to play with the Pirates this coming season.
   
The Royal Navy duo, Cornish Musician Edd Pascoe (24) and Fijian Logistician Timoci Kava (27), are looking forward to a full and interesting season with the Pirates and welcome the challenge of Championship Rugby.

Edd, who plays Trombone with the Plymouth Royal Marines' Band, was educated in Falmouth. His involvement with Rugby started at the youth level with Penryn and he has represented Cornwall at junior level.  On joining the Royal Marines, Edd took a break from playing, but didn't stay away for long and soon joined in again with the Royal Navy Under 23s and Gosport & Fareham RFC.  An invitation to attend the senior Royal Navy camp spurred him on and in his final season with Royal Navy Under 23s he was honoured to captain the side. He gained his first senior cap when he came on as a replacement against the French Navy and then two more caps followed when he started in the back-row against the RAF and then against the  Army at Twickenham.

He also played for Redruth last season, which proved a great experience and helped him develop further as a player. Still playing for the Royal Navy, he was part of the Royal Navy Team that won this year’s Inter-Services Championship and received a call-up for the UK Armed Forces side that played against Saracens in London.

Timoci, or ‘Jimmy’ as he is sometimes called, was a star player in the HMS Seahawk side that lifted the Navy Cup this year, beating the Royal Marines 40 Commando from Taunton in the final.  Based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose where he works in the Logistics Department, Timoci first trained with the Pirates near the end of last season, before putting pen to paper this summer. A recognised back-row player, he has also plays in the centre, and is a very useful 7s player; he is a physically robust performer with pace.

Timoci comes from a gifted rugby family. Two of his brothers and two nephews have played at a high level, and he himself has been a member of the Royal Navy squad.  

Making the announcement at the Pirates' training game against the ‘Pirate Amateurs’ and their 'Meet the Players' evening, the Cornish Pirates Coach said:

“We are very pleased to welcome Edd and Timoci on board, and our appreciation is expressed to the Royal Navy for enabling them to sign for us. Both hard-working and committed players, we are keen to aid their rugby development to enable them to realise their full potential.”

With thanks to Cornish Pirates, RNAS Culdrose Public Relations Team and Lphot Kyle Heller

Words by Peter Wooldridge and Phil Westren

Image courtesy of the Cornish Pirates