Penryn Rugby Club are excited to announce their coaching team for 2017/18 season which sees some familiar names among the Cornish rugby family return to The Memorial Ground, writes Ben Gilby.

Penryn born Toby Freeman, who has just signed for Cornish Pirates has been installed as Head Coach for next season, and he will be ably assisted by former Cornwall, Camborne and Launceston backs coach Ian Morgan as well as ex-Borough player Dave Pascoe, who is part of the Royal Navy coaching set-up and Gareth Tedstone as assistant forwards coach.

Penryn RFC Head of Rugby Dave Levick said: "This is big news for the club. It is particularly rewarding to have two ex-players coming back to The Memorial Ground as coaches. It gives our players people to look up to.

"The senior players were extremely happy with the news when we spoke to them. The boys have loved Graham Dawe's training this season, but he has been unable to commit to Saturdays due to his commitments with Brixham RFC. Graham has said how pleased he is for Penryn with these appointments and stated that he is happy to help us where he can."

“Toby Freeman is a hugely enthusiastic coach and a true professional of the game, which will be a massive benefit the players and the club.”

Freeman, 29, has just joined Cornish Pirates from their fellow Greene King IPA side Nottingham.

Having started his career with Penryn, the lock forward moved on to play for Exeter Chiefs, Rotherham Titans and Ampo Ordizia in Spain, for whom he won the Kings Cup and the man of the match award in the final. Freeman will be leading all training sessions and will be present for all 1st XV matches on Saturdays when he is not in action for the Pirates.

The club are delighted to welcome Ian Morgan as assistant coach with responsibility for the backs.

Morgan will also be in charge of the 1st XV for matches when Toby Freeman is away playing for the Cornish Pirates. Ian has a highly successful coaching past as backs coach of the Cornwall squad who have reached Twickenham in the Bill Beaumont Cup for the past few years, working closely with Graham Dawe.

Morgan has also coached Camborne in National Three earlier this season and been involved with Launceston when they were a National Two club.

Levick added: "His credentials are second to none. He has such a winning mentality and comes to us determined to write some wrongs after his departure from Camborne."

Dave Pascoe is a Mawnan Smith boy and former Penryn player, who has also played for the Cornish Pirates. He has captained the Navy side and is based at RNAS Culdrose.

Gareth Tedstone arrives as assistant forwards coach. Tedstone is currently a coach at Truro College being employed by Exeter Chiefs.

His appointment with Penryn will give him the chance to expand his coaching to senior rugby and is an example of promoting an up and coming coach from in and around the club.

Existing coach Graham Dawe will continue to lead midweek training for the remainder of this season and will be available to offer his advice in scrummaging affairs from afar on an ongoing basis.

Colin Rostant, who has been working with the 1st XV on matchdays over the past few months has opted to take up other opportunities with immediate effect, and the club thank him warmly for his efforts.

George Jones, Grant Randlesome and Andy Seviour will manage the first team for the remaining three games of the season.