Cornwall R.L.F.C.
 | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Cornwall RLFC |
| Nickname(s) | The Choughs[1] |
| Colours | Black and Gold |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Exited | 2025 |
| Former details | |
| Ground(s) |
|
Cornwall RLFC was a British professional rugby league team based in Penryn, Cornwall, England. The club competed in the third-tier RFL League One from 2022 to 2025, when the club withdrew from the league and ceased operations mid-season.[2]
History
2019–20: Ottawa Aces
It was first announced in March 2019 that a consortium from Canada, led by Toronto Wolfpack founder Eric Perez, had purchased the Rugby Football League membership of club Hemel Stags and planned to relocate their licence to Canada.[3]
More due diligence took place during 2019 to decide if the club was ready to join League 1 for the 2020 season along with the New York City Rugby League,[4] however at the end of July 2019 it was announced that the club would not enter the league in 2020 and would instead work towards joining the league in 2021.[5]
On 9 March 2020, Ottawa announced they would push back their debut season and enter League 1 in 2021.[6] However, due to travel restrictions between Canada and the United Kingdom resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Aces and the RFL agreed to defer entry to the League 1 another year again, until 2022.[7]
Come March 2021, it was announced Ottawa would compete in the newly founded North America Rugby League along with the Toronto Wolfpack, however Perez said the club still expected to play in League 1 in 2022 and suggested the club could play as a 2nd team in the NARL.
On 22 October 2021, it was announced that Ottawa Aces would relocate back to the United Kingdom permanently due the "unstable operating environment" of running a club in the British leagues from Canada during a pandemic.[8] They would also withdraw from the NARL effectively disbanding as the Ottawa Aces.
2021–25: Relocation to Cornwall
On 2 November 2021 the club was officially relocated to Penryn, Cornwall and rebranded as Cornwall RLFC. The club were allocated a place in League 1, the third tier of the British rugby league system.[9]
On 8 December 2021 it was announced that Neil Kelly had been appointed as head coach,[10] and Anthony Mullally, a former Super League winner with Leeds Rhinos and Ireland international was the first player signing.[11] On 25 June 2022, Cornwall earned their first competitive win defeating West Wales Raiders 22–4.[12] It was their only win of the season. in October 2022, Mike Abbot took over as head coach having previously been the assistant to Neil Kelly.[13]
2024–25: Cornish ownership and financial trouble
On 27 November 2024, the consortium led by Eric Perez sold the club to Cornish businessman Kenny Stone. Stone aimed to make the RFL League 1 side a community-based club.[14] However, on 2 April 2025 it was announced that Cornwall RLFC had folded due to financial issues. Their last match was a 78–6 defeat by Whitehaven at Penryn - a record home loss.[15]
Coaches
- Neil Kelly 2021–2022
- Mike Abbot 2022–2025
Seasons
| Season | League | Play-offs | Challenge Cup | RFL 1895 Cup | Ref. | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | |||||
| 2022 | League 1 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 276 | 864 | 2 | 10th | Did not qualify | Did not participate | Did not participate | [16][17] |
| 2023 | League 1 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 257 | 712 | 10 | 9th | Did not qualify | R2 | Did not qualify | [17][18][19] |
| 2024 | League One | 20 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 306 | 787 | 6 | 8th | Did not qualify | R3 | Did not participate | [17][20][21] |
| 2025 | League One | Did not complete season | R2 | PR1 | [22][23] | ||||||||
See also
References
- ^ "Challenge Cup: Cornwall prepare to make rugby league history". BBC Sport. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ "Cornwall fold due to financial issues". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ "Toronto Wolfpack founder looking to bring rugby league team to Ottawa". globalnews.ca. 21 March 2019.
- ^ "Overseas clubs | Update". RFL. 20 May 2019.
- ^ "Ottawa miss out on 2020 arrival". Total Rugby League. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
- ^ "Eric Perez unveils 2021 League 1 expansion team Ottawa Aces". Rugby League Hub. 9 March 2020.
- ^ "Ottawa Aces: Canadian club defer League One entry until 2022". BBC Sport. 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Ottawa Aces forced to relocate to the UK in sensational move". 22 October 2021.
- ^ Cornwall to host new professional rugby league team after Ottawa plans shelved
- ^ "Neil Kelly: Cornwall RLFC appoint ex-Widnes coach for inaugural season". BBC Sport. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Cornwall make Anthony Mullally first signing". Love Rugby League. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "Cornwall RLFC make history by claiming their first-ever win". www.loverugbyleague.com.
- ^ "Mike Abbott replaces Neil Kelly as Cornwall head coach". BBC Sport. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ Brent Pilnick (27 November 2024). "Cornwall RLFC taken over by new owners". BBC Sport.
- ^ Brent Pilnick (2 April 2025). "Cornwall RLFC fold because of finance issues". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Betfred League 1 Table". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022.
- ^ a b c "Cornwall chief explains withdrawal from 1895 Cup, admits 'preference would have been to take part'". Love Rugby League. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ "Betfred League 1 Table". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Challenge Cup: Cornwall 14-20 Rochdale Mayfield - Cornish debut ends in defeat". BBC Sport. 25 February 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ "Scoreboard: Week ending 15th September 2024". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3348. 16 September 2024. p. 34.
- ^ "Mike Abbott: Cornwall coach blames 'discipline' after two fights mar Challenge Cup defeat by York Acorn". BBC Sport. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ "Crusaders battle the conditions for simple win". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3465. 27 January 2025. p. 19.
- ^ "Ashton scores four on Rochdale return". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3466. 3 February 2025. p. 18.
