Chris Ashton and Joe Launchbury hailed the rain-soaked players of Newquay Hornets and St Just after both braved tough conditions to provide a nail-biting spectacle for a nationwide audience.
The Cornish clubs went head-to-head on Saturday in a match which doubled up as a league and cup encounter, with hosts Newquay running out 15-8 winners in a match streamed on England Rugby’s YouTube and social media channels.
Ashton and Launchbury, who have 109 England caps between them, coached each side in the build-up and relished sampling a taste of grassroots rugby.
“It was two teams who really enjoyed their rugby,” Ashton said.
“The weather was rubbish but it didn’t stop the lads from getting stuck in at all.
“They were desperate to impress on the live stream, it gave them a bit more energy and desire to get out and play well. The weather didn’t help but it didn’t stop the physicality.
“I went down to St Just in midweek to do the session with them, which was good as I’d never normally get the chance to get down that far.
“They are really proud of their club and their facilities and they want more people to get involved, to be part of that rugby community.”
Newquay Hornets and St Just were chosen to be part of the live stream coverage, which was fronted by commentators Simon Ward and Dewi Morris, through their involvement with the Play Together Stay Together campaign.
The RFU’s club activation guide provides guidance on how grassroots clubs can retain existing players and encourage new ones, with Launchbury pleased to see the Cornish clubs’ efforts rewarded with a showpiece occasion.
“Rugby is so important in Cornwall and to have the cameras down meant a lot to them,” said the lock, who grew in neighbouring Devon.
“As professional rugby players, we can be guilty of moaning about everything – the weather, how hard training is – and it was refreshing to see these guys roll up their sleeves and get on with it.
“It was good to see them really enjoy it and that’s why the RFU brought this activation down here.”
St Just had won the reverse fixture 22-0 before Christmas but Newquay came out firing in front of the cameras and took an early lead through Mitch Brownlow, who barrelled over following a rolling maul.
Will Roberts’ penalty put the visitors on the board but tries from Dan Hay and Max Badman extended Newquay’s lead to 15-3.
Harry Neal scored straight from the restart after Badman’s try to set up a tense finish but the hosts held on to advance into the next round.
Newquay prop Beau Danks, who was named man of the match, said: “Having Joe Launchbury with us, and this opportunity to play on the stream through Play Together Stay Together, has been great.
“We knew it would be a tough, physical game, but the message from Joe and the coaches was to stick together and to get the win is massive.”
Play Together Stay Together is an England Rugby campaign to encourage people to get back into rugby. Want to get back to the action? Find your local rugby club using findrugby.com
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