Pritchard and Ratcliff sign new Cornish Pirates deals
Matt Pritchard (right) helped Cornwall win the Under-20 County Championship when he was a youth player
- Published
Hooker Matt Pritchard and flanker Luke Ratcliff have signed new deals with Cornish Pirates to stay at the club for the 2026-27 season.
Pritchard, 23, has made 22 appearances and scored six tries since joining from Redruth in November 2024.
He was previously part of the Exeter Chiefs academy and said he is "looking forward" to another campaign with Pirates.
"I just want to keep learning and improving and this is the best place to do it," he told the club website, external.
Joint-head coach Alan Paver described Pritchard as "local, tough and with plenty of growth in his game."
Paver added: "A proud Cornishman now with a full year of Champ Rugby under his belt, he's developing into a strong set-piece specialist, bringing real physicality on both sides of the ball."
Ratcliff, who is Australian with Welsh heritage, joined Pirates after a pre-season trial and has scored five tries in 19 appearances.
"His development has been a credit to him - he's a gritty, physical player with real natural ability, and we're excited about what he'll continue to bring," Paver said of the 27-year-old.
The pair are the ninth and 10th players to have agreed a new contract in the past week, following scrum-half Dan Hiscocks, prop Billy Young, centre Joe Elderkin, hooker Morgan Nelson, lock Josh King, winger Arthur Relton, fly-half Arwel Robson and full-back Angus Mawson.
Pirates also signed back-row Tomiwa Agbongbon from Ealing Trailfinders on a permanent deal following two seasons on loan.
