On an evening when the Cornish Pirates squads were boosted with the announcement of seven names to be dual-registered with Exeter Chiefs, it also confirmed that two Royal Navy-associated players have signed for the club.
The Royal Navy duo, Cornish-born Musician Edd Pascoe (24) and Fijian born Logistician Timoci Kava (27), are looking forward to a full and interesting season with the Pirates and welcome the challenge of Championship Rugby.
Musician Edd, who plays Trombone with the Plymouth Royal Marines Band, was educated in Falmouth.
His Rugby started at youth level with Penryn and he has represented Cornwall at junior level. On joining the Royal Marines Edd took a break from playing, but began again with the Royal Navy under 23s and Gosport & Fareham RFC.
An invitation to attend the senior Royal Navy camp spurred him on and in his final season with Royal Navy under 23’s he was delighted to captain the side.
He gained his first senior cap when used as a replacement against the French Navy, followed by starting in the back-row against the RAF and the Army at Rugby HQ, Twickenham.
Returning to Cornwall, he played for Redruth last season, which proved a great experience and helped him develop further as a player.
Still playing for the Royal Navy, he was part of the Royal Navy Team that won this year’s Inter-Services Championships and received a call-up to a UK Armed Forces side that played against Saracens in London.
Fijian Timoci, or ‘Jimmy’ as he is sometimes called, was a star player in the HMS Seahawk side that lifted The Navy Cup this year, beating the Royal Marines 40 Commando from Taunton in the final.
Presently based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose where he works in the Logistics Department, Timoci first trained with the Pirates near the end of last season, before putting pen to paper this summer.
A recognised back-rower, he has also played in the centre, as well as a very useful sevens player, he is a physically robust performer with pace.
Timoci comes from a gifted rugby family. Two of his brothers and two nephews have played at a high level, and he himself has been a member of the Royal Navy squad.
Making the announcements at the Pirates training game against the ‘Pirate Amateurs’ and meet the players evening, the Cornish Pirates Coach said: “We are very pleased to welcome Edd and Timoci on board, and our appreciation is expressed to the Royal Navy for enabling them to sign for us.
“Both hard-working and committed players, we are keen to aid their rugby development to enable them to realise their full potential.”
