It was fantastic to hear the news on Monday lunchtime that Cornwall will have not one, but two representatives in the England squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which begins next month.

Jack Nowell and Luke Cowan-Dickie have both made the cut for Eddie Jones’ 31-man squad for the tournament. There may have been a little doubt over whether we would see one or both, or maybe even neither of them, but it is great to see that both will be at the biggest global event of one of the biggest sports around.

Wing Nowell, from Newlyn, is still recovering from an ankle injury he picked up in the Premiership final defeat to Saracens in May, but it is not surprising to see he has been included anyway, given that he has featured in 12 of England’s last 15 Six Nations matches over the last three years and become one of the hottest properties in English rugby in that time.

Forward Cowan-Dickie, born in Truro, has become more of a regular on the international stage and has played himself into contention just at the right time, winning four caps in this year’s Six Nations, and scored his first international try in Saturday’s 33-19 win over Wales in their World Cup warm-up.

The pair will follow in the footsteps of former Redruth and Bude player Phil Vickery, who was a member of England’s triumphant 2003 World Cup-winning side.

It has already been an excellent year for local rugby, off the back of Penryn’s title-winning campaign, Nowell and Cowan-Dickie’s Premiership final appearance with Exeter Chiefs and, of course, Cornwall’s Bill Beaumont Cup win at Twickenham.

It would be a truly fantastic way to cap-off the year if the pair can make a big impact on the biggest stage possible next month.

And who knows – could Cornwall be about to get two more World Cup winners?

OK, let’s not get ahead of ourselves...