Ruaridh Dawson signs for Cornish Pirates

The second new face confirmed by the Cornish Pirates is scrum-half Ruaridh Dawson.

Born in Consett, in the north-west county of Durham, he has signed a one-year contract and will arrive in the summer from Newcastle Falcons.

Aged 21, Ruaridh began his rugby journey as a student at Newcastle School for Boys and also at Blaydon RFC. Representing Northumberland at age group levels he also played for the Tri-County under 16s and North of England under 18s teams, as well as England under 18 Counties when they won the Tri-Nations championship beating France and Ireland. 

When a member of the Newcastle Falcons Junior Academy, Ruaridh signed his first professional contract in 2015, going on to represent the Falcons at the Singha Premiership Rugby 7s later that summer before being called up to the England Sevens team at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa.

Having featured for the Falcons first team during 2015/16 pre-season and playing in the Premiership, he also went on to play for Scotland under 20s, for whom he qualifies through his parents. He also represented the Scots in the 2017 Junior World Championship in Georgia, playing against eventual champions New Zealand.