TV presenter Nick Knowles has become a shareholder in Championship rugby side Cornish Pirates, joining a growing ownership group as the club seeks investment to work towards Premiership status. Knowles, best known for DIY SOS and National Lottery: Who Dares Wins, has been an ambassador for the club for over a season, and chief executive Sally Pettipher said his rugby background, connections and public profile would raise the Pirates' national and international visibility.

The club has sought fresh investment since long-serving owner Sir Dicky Evans ended his near-30-year association with it in January 2025, and its ownership now combines American investors, including Pittsburgh-based Stonewood Capital Management, with local shareholders. Pettipher described Knowles's stake as part of a 10-year plan rather than a "lottery win", noting the Pirates must meet strict Premiership entry standards, including a business plan supporting a £5m player salary floor, despite generating income from just 14 home matches a year. Separately, the club's new main grandstand at the Mennaye Field, damaged by Storm Goretti in January, will not be ready for the pre-season match against Saracens on 28 August.