The Cornish Pirates have launching a funding appeal to help support the Club with the increased Covid related costs needed to participate in the 2020/21 season.

The ‘#Pledge4Pirates’ fundraiser has already raised over £24,000 for the club to help cover these additional costs required to meet Covid requirements.

Negotiations with Sport England under the Sport Winter Survival Package enabled the Club to take on a loan to help subsidise the huge loss of income for this season.

However, with no grant available to support the additional Covid related costs of testing and operational requirements, the Club is left to face these costs themselves with testing alone expected to be in excess of £100,000.

With the 2019/20 season cut short back in March 2020, Pirates have been unable to generate any significant income stream for nearly 12 months.

In a statement, Cornish Pirates CEO, Rebecca Thomas, said: “The support received to date has been overwhelming, with donations and merchandise purchases helping us offset some of our ongoing costs to keep the playing squad together.

“Our aim has always been to protect the future of the Club and we have worked hard to consistently be one of the top Championship sides, developing high quality players along the way.

“Our supporters have always been at the heart of this and we are proud to be a part of the huge Pirates family that exists, not just in Cornwall but across the country and indeed the world.

“Supporters will be able to watch at home via a pay per view live stream. This will be available on a match-by-match basis and we hope to be able to also offer a discounted ‘season pass’ for all home games.”

The Greene King IPA Championship is due to commence on the weekend of March 6 2021 with the Cornish Pirates facing Saracens at The Mennaye.

To donate to the appeal, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/pledge4pirates.