Rotherham Titans vs Cornish Pirates: Match Preview

Five weeks into the 2026/27 Champ Rugby season and the newcomers are showing why they’re a force to be reckoned with. Newly promoted Rotherham Titans have climbed into the top four, but their next game could be one of their toughest challenges yet. 

The Titans have now claimed four wins from five and face the sixth-placed Pirates at home in what promises to be an unmissable match. The question is, can Rotherham keep their momentum going at Clifton Lane, or will the Pirates return home treasuring a well-earned victory? 

Ahead of the game live on BLAZE on Sunday 1st November, we take a look at how both clubs fared in week five, and a few of the players who could swing the contest. 

Rotherham arrive on the back of their first away win of the season, a 29-14 victory over Richmond that lifted them into the top four. The Titans were quickest out of the blocks, with Kima Ravuvu crashing over inside four minutes, but Will Goffey soon levelled the scores for the hosts. 

From there, Rotherham never looked in doubt – in contrast to their second-half scare against Caldy the previous week. Russell Bennett, John Okafor and Ben Cambriani all crossed before the break to build a 22-7 half-time lead. However, the second half was a far tighter affair and it took until the 68th minute for the next points, when Dewald Kotze finished off a driving maul. Tom Riman replied for Richmond with 10minutes left, but the Titans held firm, picking up a bonus point for scoring five tries along the way. 

Cornish Pirates, meanwhile, bounced back from a heavy defeat at Bedford with a 48-24 win over Chinnor, extending their unbeaten home record this season. Chinnor struck first through Nick Smith, but Alessandro Heaney and a Henry Palmer double had the Pirates 19-12 ahead at the break. 

The second half was anything but straightforward. Two more Chinnor tries, including a second for veteran hooker Alun Walker, put the visitors 24-22 in front before the hour. The Pirates' response was emphatic. Heaney's second put them back in the lead, and a late flurry, including a try for Hugh Bokenham in his 50th appearance for the club and a debut score for loan signing Charlie Poynton, wrapped up a seven-try victory. 

This match is a landmark one for the Titans. It will be the first time television cameras have visited Clifton Lane for a live broadcast, and the occasion comes after a rapid rise for a club that won National One last season to secure its second promotion in three years. 

Director of rugby Harvey Biljon was full of praise for his players after the Richmond win, particularly given the disruption behind the scenes. Two late changes to the side on the morning of the game and an early start meant it was ‘a huge effort from the players’, he said. 

The Pirates, meanwhile, face the opposite challenge. Joint head coach Gavin Cattle has admitted his side can be slow to get going, particularly after a long journey, so how they handle the trip north could be crucial in deciding the game’s outcome. 

John Okafor – Rotherham Titans 

The towering lock was in the thick of the action at Richmond, running a perfect support line to finish off a flowing Cambriani break just before half-time. It was a reminder of just how mobile he is for a player of his size. 

Okafor is also one of the league's most reliable lineout operators. His 30 lineouts won place him third in the Champ after five weeks of the season. Don't overlook Russell Bennett either, the off-season signing from Doncaster, who scored a try and kicked a conversion in the win over Richmond. 

Matt Pritchard – Cornish Pirates 

It's rare for a hooker to feature among the league's leading try scorers, but that's exactly where Matt Pritchard finds himself. His six tries this season put him third in the Champ, behind only Chinnor's Alun Walker and Doncaster's Penaia Tagutu. 

His tally includes four in the opening-day win over Doncaster Knights and the last-gasp score that beat Ealing Trailfinders. But also worth watching is Henry Palmer, the Australian sevens player who scored twice against Chinnor to take his season tally to three. Palmer continues to improve with every week, demonstrating why he entered the season as one of the most exciting young players to watch. 

Can the Titans rise to the occasion and make it five wins from six in front of the cameras at Clifton Lane? Or will Pritchard and the Pirates steal the victory and spoil the party? Find out by tuning in to BLAZE on Sunday 1st November from 3:30pm (4pm kick-off) for another unmissable game of Elior Champ Rugby. 

Want more Elior Champ Rugby? BLAZE is the place to be, with live coverage continuing across the next three weeks from Sunday 1st November. Catch the action live on BLAZE, free on Freeview 64, Sky 156, Sky Glass/Sky Stream 169, Freesat 161 and Virgin 174, or stream via the free BLAZE app.