Nick Knowles breaks silence on rugby club ambitions after takeover

The DIY SOS star became a rugby club owner earlier this month after investing in the Pirates as part of an ambitious new era for the Cornish outfit.

Knowles has joined the club as a new shareholder, with the Pirates also revealing that he has brought in a film crew to produce a documentary series exploring the importance of rugby in Cornwall and the club's plans for regeneration and growth following fresh investment from the United States.

The 1991 County Championship final win is among the moments that Knowles believes demonstrates the strength of rugby's roots in Cornwall and the potential for the county to support a top-flight side.

"There's a lot of conversations going on about whether the Premiership will be sealed off or not but we're in negotiations and talking to the RFU," Knowles told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"Rugby is as much part of Cornwall as tin mines and and pasties, it's just always been there.

"40,000 Cornish made their way up to Twickenham, which at that stage in 1991 was thought to be about 10% of the population, so it's massively important.

"Then on top of that you've got this amazing identity that Cornwall has, it's the other Celtic nation.

"All Cornish people know this, but not necessarily the rest of the country does, but Kernow is more of a country in its own right rather than just a county,

"So there's that massive identity and we just really want to wake up that 40,000 people and that huge fan base to get up behind the Pirates again and see if we can get that sense of belonging and the cream rising to the top."

The Pirates have put together a 10-year plan aimed at taking the club to the top of the Championship and ensuring they are ready to compete in the top flight.

However, changes introduced last season mean the Championship winners are no longer guaranteed promotion.

Clubs must instead demonstrate to the rugby authorities that they have the necessary business plan and infrastructure to support a top-flight team.

The Pirates still have plenty of work to do, particularly when it comes to securing a venue capable of hosting top-flight matches. However, Knowles believes promotion would benefit the entire county.

"If you think about when people come to Bath, for games in Bath, the city comes alive and all the restaurants and the hotels and everybody does really well because people come for a weekend," he added.

"I'd love people from the rest of the country to be coming down, especially with the new road you've got in there and an airport just up the road, so there's all kinds of different ways of getting there now that are easier.

"So I'd like those people all coming down and all that money being spent in Cornwall and helping the local economy. It'd be a massive boost to the economy.

"I know that Cornish people don't like a lot of change. But how fantastic to have that influx of people and coming down and bringing all that wealth to spend in Cornwall."

The obvious marquee signing Pirates could make would be bringing proudly Cornish winger Jack Nowell back home. The 33-year-old remains at the top of his game with La Rochelle, but could potentially be tempted by a return to his home county.

The former England international, who is now ineligible for selection due to playing in France, won two Six Nations titles with England, as well as two Premiership titles and a Champions Cup with Exeter Chiefs.

If Nowell wanted to spend the latter stages of his career where it all began, Pirates could be an ideal destination. He could bring his career full circle by returning to the club where he started his rugby journey as part of the Pirates' youth setup.

Perhaps the most ambitious, and some would argue unrealistic, option on this list, Billy Searle enjoyed an excellent season with Leicester Tigers and has established himself as one of the finest fly-halves in England on current form.

He appears likely to remain in Leicester for the time being after a journeyman career, but the 30-year-old is originally from Exeter and has previously represented Cornwall.

Given that he is still in his prime, a move to Pirates is unlikely in the near future. However, it could become an attractive option further down the line if Searle wants to reconnect with his roots as his career begins to wind down.

Signing him would require a significant financial outlay, making the move unrealistic for Pirates at this stage.

A realistic option for both geographical and rugby reasons, WillGriff John was born in Plymouth and, at 33, appears to be approaching the latter stages of his career.

The prop made just seven appearances for Sale Sharks last season, but has accumulated plenty of experience throughout his career. That includes three appearances for Wales during the 2025 Six Nations.

After suffering an injury last year, a move back to the south-west could offer John an opportunity to finish his career close to where he was born, even though he was actually raised in the Rhondda Valley in Wales.

There are no obvious south-west links for Irish winger Rob Russell, but the former Gloucester man could still prove to be an astute signing as he looks to rebuild his career.

The 27-year-old's move away from Leinster to Kingsholm could hardly have gone worse, with Russell released from his contract this summer and yet to find another club.

His ability is arguably above Championship level, but he may need a platform where he can rediscover his form and establish himself before attempting to return to the top division.

The alternative would be a return to his native Ireland, but Pirates could provide him with an opportunity to get his career back on track.

Another player recently released by a PREM Rugby club, Elliott Obatoyinbo has gained plenty of experience with Newcastle Red Bulls but has never quite managed to establish himself as a regular at the top level.

The winger showed flashes of quality during his time at Kingston Park, but there was ultimately not enough consistency to convince the Red Bulls to retain him following their investment.

A move to the Championship could give Obatoyinbo the opportunity to play a more prominent role and rebuild his confidence.

For Pirates, meanwhile, it would mean adding a player with considerable experience at the level above. Obatoyinbo could become a key figure in a potentially successful side while giving himself a platform to work his way back into PREM Rugby.