Cornish Pirates bolster pack with two local forwards

Barnaby Elderkin joins his brother Joe in the Pirates squad

Cornish Pirates have signed young forwards, Barnaby Elderkin and Matt Pritchard, for the rest of the season.

Hooker Pritchard, 22, joins the club from Redruth and is a former Exeter Chiefs academy player who has helped Cornwall win the Under-20 County Championship.

Elderkin, 19, is a back-row and the younger brother of Pirates centre Joe.

He is another former Exeter academy player and featured for the Chiefs in a game against the Royal Navy and played twice in pre-season for Pirates.

"Barnaby has done a couple of pre-seasons with us to and from college, and we have seen him develop into a fine young man and a fine young rugby player," said Pirates joint-head coach Gavin Cattle.

"Now deciding to concentrate more on his rugby, it is a logical option, and at this moment in time we are really delighted to welcome him into the squad.

"Watching Matt for a couple of seasons, he is someone who is squat and powerful in stature.

"He has good minutes playing National League rugby with Redruth, and his set-piece play is also good, as he is in the contact area."