Cornish Businessman Kenny Stone Acquires Cornwall RLFC

Cornwall RLFC, which concluded last season second-from-bottom in League One with three victories from 20 matches, has been acquired by Cornish businessman Kenny Stone from its Canadian owners. Stone’s professional background includes roles as a coach and development officer with the Rugby Football League, and he most recently coached the sport in the United States. The club, established three years ago, competes in League One, the third tier of the English game. Eric Perez and his Ontario Inc consortium had managed the club since its inception, holding the RFL licence that Perez had initially intended for a club in Ottawa before the Covid-19 pandemic. Stone shared his strategic outlook with BBC Sport, stating, “I have a five, 10, 15, 25-year plan and strategy.” He added, “In my time away from the RFL I have been in a variety of different roles and it just feels right, this is the time.” Explaining the circumstances of his involvement, Stone said, “I came back from United States 18 months ago and have been talking with some former colleagues and friends about options and possibilities.” He continued, “I happened to get a phone call from a colleague about Cornwall and their current situation, so that allowed me to pivot and visit the players and the guys there, speaking about my ambitions and plans.” Eric Perez’s consortium, the former owner, continues to own Truro City, a National League South football club. Stone, aged 45, whose father is Cornish-born, was involved with the University of Gloucestershire All Golds before relocating to Colorado in 2017. In Colorado, he served as head coach for the University of Denver’s rugby league side and as director of rugby at Queen City RFC in Colorado’s biggest city. Stone articulated his vision for the club to be a central part of the community in Cornwall, prioritizing the provision of opportunities for individuals from all walks of life. He stated, “I want to flip it upside down in what a rugby club is.” Stone elaborated, “For me it’s about how can I have a positive impact on the community, it’s about social care, foster care, adult care, engaging the foundation, creating something that has a legacy that has positive impacts.” He further explained his aspirations for both on and off-field development: “From those on and off the field aspects it’s developing something where there’s hospitality, hotel, various other businesses and partnerships that will lead to Cornish-born, Cornish-bred individuals representing a club on and off the field with aspirations to play at the highest levels.” Stone affirmed his commitment to securing the necessary financial backing for the club to compete at the League One level. The club faces a geographical challenge within the third tier, with its closest away fixture next season requiring a 500-mile round-trip to play Midlands Hurricanes, and a match against Newcastle Thunder entailing a 900-mile journey. Stone commented on the immediate future, stating, “I’m under no illusions the first year right now is about making sure that we have the staff and things in place to make that work and then from that we build from that.” He emphasized the need for collective support: “That’s buy-in from the community, that’s buy-in from the fans and from myself personal buy-in financially as well.” Acknowledging the financial realities of professional sports, Stone remarked, “I’m under no illusion that there’s many aspects of the professional game that is a sunken cost, but I believe there are different ways of generating revenues and incomes and creating a customer experience, a fan experience, in the middle of that.” He also noted the ongoing need for investment: “I’m aware there’s more investment needed and support, and that’s something that we’ll be working and canvassing with, with my team of people looking for the right investors that are wanting to do it for the right reasons.” Stone concluded by defining his approach: “It’s not a money-making exercise, it’s a giving exercise.”