Pirates could ensure Leeds do not have to walk the plank

In 2005, the Cornish Pirates left their Penzance home at Mennaye Field to move closer to Truro, Cornwall’s biggest city, with the mission of widening their fan base.

A disagreement over the use of a new events marquee last year forced them to end their ground-share deal with Camborne RFC and return to Mennaye Field, where, ironically, they have now increased their fan base – only their new fans all come from Yorkshire.

For if the Pirates manage to defeat Worcester Warriors over the two-legged Championship play-off final, which concludes on May 18, then the Premiership will claw Leeds back from the perils of relegation, after the Yorkshire club finished bottom of the table after the 22-game season.

Despite their best efforts against Heineken Cup finalists Northampton on Saturday, defeat with only a losing bonus point earned meant Leeds finished below Newcastle Falcons on points difference.

Mennaye Field, which can hold up to 4,000 spectators, fails to meet the Professional Game Board’s criteria for playing in the Premiership, meaning that the Pirates will not be promoted even should they win the final.

Dave Barton, RFU Corporate communications manager, said: “There are lots of categories that a club needs to fill. The main one is that the ground must have a minimum licensed capacity of 10,000.

“The Cornish Pirates aren’t anywhere near that number at the moment.

“Of course there has to be some ground criteria, otherwise you just get millionaires throwing money at expensive players without getting the correct stadiums and facilities for the fans.”

The Pirates are in negotiations with Cornwall Council for a new multi-purpose stadium that would meet those requirements, but no plans have been confirmed yet and the club have no other options to meet the minimum criteria in time for next season.

Pirates winger Rhodri McAtee thinks the unusual circumstances will give his team a psychological edge going into the final. He said: “It is a shame we can’t go up but we’re building a good foundation for next year. This is still another step towards the Premiership. But it means all the pressure is on them, not us, in the final.”

The Warriors travel to Mennaye Field, Carnegie’s field of hope, tomorrow evening for the play-off final first leg, before Leeds’s fate is decided in the return game at Worcester’s Sixways Stadium a week later.