THE Cornish All Blacks’ recruitment drive shows no signs of slowing down ahead of their return to the Tribute South West Premier after revealing three more signings at the weekend.

Last month the club signed Plymouth Marjon students Louis Ogilvie and Rhys Carpenter as well announcing the return of prop Rory Cinnamond.

Now Cinnamond’s ex-Launceston team-mate Chris Mcdonald has rejoined the club alongside Newton Abbot flanker Tom Bottoms and Marjon back Alfie Lang.

Joint head coach, Ryan Westren, is delighted with their additions, adding: “Tom is a friend of Alfie’s and wanted to come along after hearing good things about the club. We also had some conversation with Matt Jess who coached them both at Newton Abbot and he gave them glowing reviews, so it was a no-brainer to get them on board.

“Chris has obviously been here before and we know exactly what he brings and it’s something we have missed in the time he has gone, and that’s his ability to carry the ball but also his work at the breakdown.

“We made no bones about wanting to strengthen/add depth up front and hopefully the signings so far will aid that.”

Mcdonald, who is equally adept at lock or in the back-row, is delighted to be back after a season at Devonport Services, although his work commitments got in the way of him making any appearances.

He said: “I played with Launceston for a couple of years, then with me moving to Plymouth and then joining my new ship, I couldn’t commit. So I joined Devonport Services thinking being closer to home I would play there, but with work commitments and being away a lot, I couldn’t get any games for them. This season I will be back in the UK permanently so I can play again, and it just came down to where I thought I would enjoy it the most.

“Launceston was the place because of the good friends that I made down there which was the big point of me going back. It’s a very family-run club which is another big factor of it. I became really close friends with Fred (Bulut), Westy (Ryan Westren) and Marc Williams and the list goes on. They are all just a good bunch of lads which makes playing even better.”

The 27-year-old from Northern Ireland is confident of making a big impact.

He said: “I’m a back-row/second-row player but I like six the most. I am a ball carrier being 110kg and I will bring good turnover skills due to my days playing at seven. I’ll bring more than just my size as I am also a leader, which I know when I was down there, helped out loads. Also speaking to Westy and Goldie for what was happening in my career at the work in the next 12-15 months, they came back with what I wanted to hear and understand. That’s was another factor of me joining.”

While Mcdonald is a familiar face, not many will have heard of Bottoms and Lang, who are both 22.

Bottoms has spent time playing for South West England and Bath University amongst others.

He said: “I recently finished a season at Newton Abbot which was my first season back from university.

“I was looking for a new team in the South West Premier and when I saw CABs were coming back up, I thought it would be a great opportunity to join a team that’s on a buzz from promotion and looking to go higher.

“I’m an openside-flanker but I can play blindside or second-row and I like to think that I bring energy to a team in both defence and attack.

“I enjoy being a part of a team’s shared common goals, and am happy taking on leadership roles. I played for Newton Abbot on and off since I was in the under 7s, captaining the side through the later stages of juniors and into colts.

“I took time away from Newton Abbot to play rugby at Bicton College and the Exeter Chiefs Academy for two years. After this I had a run with South West England, which I really enjoyed. I then went to university and had three years playing for the University of Bath men’s teams. I had a year’s captaincy for the university second team and played in the firsts in the Super BUCS League on and off through my time there. I always look to play the best rugby I can and I’m excited to see how CABs can help me do that.”

Lang is also delighted to make the move down to North Cornwall, adding: “I played with some of the Launceston players who also play for Marjon, and the CABs sounded like a really good club to be involved with.

“I play in the centres or at full-back, at this point I don’t know what I can bring to the team, but I’m really excited to be part of the club and give it my all. I’ve been playing with Marjon University, and Newton Abbot, which is where I come from.”

With four of the new signings so far being backs (Ogilvie and Lang the exceptions), spots in the forward areas in particular are going to be fiercely contested.

The Polson Bridge oufit also announced their pre-season fixtures at the weekend, which will see them take on Cornwall and Devon League side Pirates Amateurs away on Saturday, August 10, old rivals and National Two (South) side Redruth at home on Friday, August 16, Western Counties (West) outfit Cullompton at Polson Bridge the next day before a trek down to St Ives on Saturday, August 31. The Hakes won two of their three encounters with the All Blacks last term ensuring a perfect test before the competitive campaign begins the week after.

Explaining the thinking behind their pre-season schedule, Westren added: “I think we have a good blend of fixtures, it’s important to to get the balance right, some tests but also some games to blood new talent and help get our new systems and patterns up to speed.

“Hopefully every squad member will come away from the first fixture having had some game time, after that it’s up to training performance and what game time they get to make sure they get more and against what opposition.

“Hopefully the added competition within the squad will drive the standards up and create some major headaches for the coaches when it comes to selection time come the start of the season.”