HEAD Coach Jon Hill has unveiled two new signings for the Cornish All Blacks. They are 21-year-old hooker Sam Roberts and tighthead prop Bruce Pow.

Sam will be familiar to many at Polson as he played for the club from under 12s through to Colts before leaving two seasons ago to join Plymouth Albion.

Speaking at Polson, Sam said he was delighted to be back at the club: "I'm really looking forward to it and I'm desperate to play first team rugby. I went to Albion to learn from Graham Dawe and I really learned a lot over the two years I was there. I hope to see the outcome of that here. There was loads of competition at Albion for the hooker's spot and I'll be battling with Darren Semmens here but he's only a year older than me and I think I'm ready to step up.

"I played the last three games of the season with Mounts Bay and I know I can play at this level. I've always been able to get around the park but the last couple of years have improved my scrummaging and close work and so I think I'm ready for this club."

Jon was delighted to make the signing and said: "I think one of the keys is to keep this club a community club. Sam played for the juniors and colts here and achieved a lot before making his first fifteen debut three seasons ago. He ticks the right boxes, he has a lot to achieve and the ability to achieve it. We have released Glenn Cooper and so we wanted to make sure there was good competition for the hooker spot and Sam brings that.

"We never stand in the way of someone who is offered the chance to play full time. Sam got that chance but found there was just too much competition at Albion. He is bound to have learned from Graham Dawe and we will reap the rewards of that. He is now heavier, older and wiser and we will get him at the peak of his career."

Jon also announced the signing of tighthead Bruce Pow from Mounts Bay. "If there was one pack that caused us damage this year it was Mounts Bay. Bruce is a youngster with a lot of potential. He decided to stay in Penzance rather than moving away and he wants to play at the top level he can within Cornwall.

"The Mounts Bay pack were hard workers and confrontational and Bruce had good reviews and wants a challenge. Here he will get competition for his place whereas, with the best will in the world, Bay were a small squad and he was an automatic pick. Bruce has strength and power and is hungry for success."

l Jon also recently announced the signings of two more new players to the Cornish All Blacks' squad — forwards Tim Mathias (27) and Ben Hilton (26) from Mounts Bay.