Cornish Pirates v Saracens Pre-Season Friendly Preview
A new 9 on the block
By saracensfan62
August 22 2026
It will be great to have rugby back finally. It feels like it has been far too long. Next Friday, we head to Cornwall for the final pre-season test, facing a Cornish Pirates side that will be highly motivated and driven in front of what could well be a sell out crowd.
The fixture carries extra significance after the Pirates famously defeated Saracens 25–17 in Penzance March 2021 during the covid Championship season. Friday's game is therefore being marketed as the rematch of a fixture that’ll carry that bit of extra weight.
I’m not sure on the kind of team that we will be fielding, but hopefully it’ll feature at least a few of our key new signings (Tomos Williams, George Martin, Barbeary etc) and allow us to gain a glimpse into what they’ve been up to so far during pre season and what we can expect from them as the season goes on.
I anticipate on there being a few key points in this one to watch:
- Set piece – I expect Sarries will target the set piece using superior Premiership-level physicality at scrum and lineout, although who knows the Pirates do have a very reasonable pack.
- Breakdown and rucks - Pirates will need quick ball and strong contact work to prevent Saracens controlling territory.
- Squad depth - the selection is more than likely to include younger/fringe players, this is an important opportunity for them to stake a claim before the competitive season really kicks off.
- the Mennaye – it could well be a fabulous Friday night atmosphere and will contribute to this being considerably more competitive than the difference between the two leagues suggests.
In short, we can expect a fabulously competitive, entertaining Friday night encounter down in cornwall. It is a bank holiday (good luck to anyone trying to get to Cornwall!) but have fun if you are going to be in attendance and cheer loud. Not going to try and make a team prediction because I will likely be miles off, and I don't know what Venter's approach to this match will be. Feel free to do so in the comments if you wish though. As ever, CoYS!
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The summer tourists aren’t available for PRC R1 & 2 as these are still during the PRB work load regulations ‘Rest’ period.
They can play in friendlies but not competitive games (PRC)! Regulation presumably written before PRC games got tangled up with Preseason.
So Friday might be the only opportunity for Martin before his return to MWWR!!
Also applies to Tomas, JG, Dan, Earl, Calouri.
Quote:tigersimon
Do you have a Preseason game arranged for Weekend of 12th September (or 19th)? (12th is your Bye week for PRC R2)
The summer tourists aren’t available for PRC R1 & 2 as these are still during the PRB work load regulations ‘Rest’ period.
They can play in friendlies but not competitive games (PRC)! Regulation presumably written before PRC games got tangled up with Preseason.
So Friday might be the only opportunity for Martin before his return to MWWR!!
Also applies to Tomas, JG, Dan, Earl, Calouri.
Yes, playing up at Ampthill on the 12th, then Scarlets on the 18th
We should have a full squad for these games as they are friendlies. We play pirates on the28th, Ampthill on the 6th (I think?) and then Scarlets on the 19th September.
Quote:saracensfan62
tigers simon you know better than me the rules and regs set out for rest periods
We should have a full squad for these games as they are friendlies. We play pirates on the28th, Ampthill on the 6th (I think?) and then Scarlets on the 19th September.
Ampthill is the 12th, Scarlets the 18th
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:22:13:25:53 by Sarriebone.