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Nick Knowles Buys Stake in Cornish Pirates Rugby Club

BBC Sport •
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Television presenter Nick Knowles has become a shareholder in Champ Rugby side Cornish Pirates, joining the club's ownership group. Best known for presenting *DIY SOS* and *National Lottery: Who Dares Wins*, Knowles is the latest addition to a growing list of investors that includes US-based Stonewood Capital Management, which took a stake in May, making Pirates the first English professional side with American ownership.

Cornish Pirates chief executive Sally Pettipher praised Knowles, describing him as "Cornish by choice" and highlighting his long-standing support for the club. "He's been an ambassador for over a season," she said. "This investment, becoming a shareholder, is him putting some skin in the game and bringing with him his rugby heritage."

The club has been seeking new investment following the end of Sir Dicky Evans' near three-decade association in January 2025. Pettipher outlined a 10-year development plan aimed at reaching Premiership standards, emphasizing the need for a sustainable business model that operates year-round and meets new financial requirements, including a £5m salary floor.

"The great thing about these new investors is they are very, very talented business people as well as rugby people," Pettipher added. "So adding in business brains and planning brains is a gift that they give."