Cornish Pirates bring back prop Heaney

Cornish Pirates have agreed a deal to re-sign prop Alessandro Heaney for the 2026-27 Champ season.

The 23-year-old left the club in February to move to North Carolina-based Anthem in the United States' Major League Rugby.

The Irish forward moved to the Champ club last summer from American side RFC Los Angeles and made 19 appearances for Pirates, scoring two tries, before he moved back to the United States.

"Ale always felt like someone we would see again in the not too distant future, so we're delighted he's back with us," joint-head coach Alan Paver told the club website.

"When he left he had really started to come into his own as a Champ prop and was in good form, so we hope to see more of the same next season and have every faith that we will."