Trailfinders Women sign partnership with Activate Learning to deliver an elite high performance girls’ pathway. The programme will be delivered out of Activate Learning’s excellent City of Oxford College Centre Campus. The programme will provide:

• Outstanding professional coaches, strength and conditioning staff, analysis and medical support.
• Pastoral support and guidance.
• 15hrs + of dedicated contact time each week with full-time rugby staff.
• Access to A Levels and BTEC courses.
• Outstanding accommodation on site providing an immersive rugby and academic experience.
• Quality playing and training facilities including artificial and grass pitches, as well as state of the art Strength & Conditioning facilities and pool.
• The opportunity to study an additional sporting qualification- Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE), for selected students
• Compete in the highest standard of girls college rugby in the UK, with squads in both the ACE League and AOC Premier competition.
• Scholarships and bursary through Trailfinders Women’s performance pathway
• Coaching support from Trailfinders Women’s players and professional coaches
• A defined pathway from college through Brunel University towards Trailfinders Women’s PWR rugby.

Trailfinders Academy Operations Manager, Gareth Rise said: “This partnership with Activate Learning further highlights the Trailfinders Rugby Academy continued drive to build the most comprehensive dual career pathway for aspiring athletes.

“We are excited to delivery this programme with our partner that focusses on our Girls Pathway to playing PWR rugby with Trailfinders Women.”

Trailfinders Women’s Director of Rugby, Giselle Mather said: “We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with the City of Oxford College. The rugby programme is incredibly well organised and progressive and runs seamlessly alongside the athletes’ academic studies, giving a genuinely holistic approach to their 6th form development.

“The opportunities we will be able to add for the athletes in the program make it a very exciting space for a young female athlete to grow both on and off the field.”

Activate Learning Group Director, Andy Slater said: “We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with Trailfinders Women and the Trailfinders Rugby Academy!

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our girls’ rugby players to gain invaluable experience and exposure by training alongside a top-class club. We’re confident this partnership will help our girls develop their skills and reach their full potential.”

Head of Rugby at City of Oxford College, Pat Metcalfe-Jones said: ““I’m hugely proud of the growth and success of the Activate Rugby Academy at the City of Oxford College. Our programme provides young players with an outstanding rugby experience and this partnership provides a clear pathway for those with aspirations to play premiership rugby.

“Trailfinders Women have made their mark on the PWR this season and their support will be extremely valuable.”

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Ealing Trailfinders is recruiting a Head of Community.

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Trailfinders Women are thrilled to announce the signing of Scotland International Sarah Denholm ahead of the 24/25 season.

The fly-half debuted in 2019, wearing the thistle for the first time against Wales at Scotstoun Stadium.

Most recently, she has plied her trade for Edinburgh in the Celtic Challenge, captaining the side to a second-place finish in the competition’s inaugural season.

Joining Trailfinders, Denholm said: “I am so excited to join Trailfinders and can’t wait for the season ahead. It’s been exciting seeing the squad thrive in the PWR, setting such great foundations for the years ahead.

“It’s obvious that the team strive to play an expansive, fast paced style of rugby which suits how I like to play. I’m certain that the club will help me to push on both as a player and as a person and I can’t wait to get started!”

Director of Women’s Rugby Giselle Mather said: “We are really looking forward to Sarah Denholm joining the club. Her thirst and obvious passion for the elite game is infectious. She has an excellent ability to fire her back line into space and we are very much looking forward to connecting her to the excellent talent we have in our back division here at Trailfinders Women. Welcome aboard Sarah!”

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Trailfinders Women are thrilled to announce the signing of Ireland International Grace Moore from Saracens ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Moore started her rugby journey at Streatham and Croydon RFC and has gone on to achieve great success in the game.

The back row is a dangerous ball carrier and was a vital cog in Ireland’s WXV 3 win and third-place finish in the 2024 Women’s Six Nations.

After signing on the dotted line, Moore said:  “I’m delighted to have signed with Trailfinders, and I can’t wait to start my new adventure here. I am looking forward to challenging myself to becoming the best player I can be and working alongside Giselle and the coaching team.”

Director of Women’s Rugby Giselle Mather said: “We are delighted to welcome Grace Moore to Trailfinders Women. She is a ferocious competitor who loves the physicality of the game and will impose herself on our opponent with ball in hand, at the breakdown and protecting our gainline! We can’t wait for her to get started.”

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Trailfinders Women are thrilled to announce the signing of Scotland International Caity Mattinson from Gloucester-Hartpury ahead of the 24/25 season.

The scrum-half started all five of Scotland’s 2024 Six Nations fixtures, impressing with her speedy and accurate delivery from the base.

Prior to her stint in tartan, Mattinson actually played for the Red Roses seven times, before qualifying for Scotland due to an exemption from the one-country-for-life rule.

Joining Trailfinders, Mattinson said: ““I can’t wait to join Trailfinders this season. The team plays an ambitious and exciting style of rugby, with a strong coaching staff behind it and I’m looking forward to contributing to the future direction as much as I can.

“Trailfinders is also a club that is passionate about growing rugby in the community, which is something that resonates strongly with me and my values.  Plus on a personal note, there’s the added bonus of playing with a really inspiring group that includes a lot of my old Warriors teammates.”

Director of Women’s Rugby Giselle Mather said: “Caity’s love and passion for the game shines through in everything she does. She is a hugely talented and experienced scrum half, a fantastic young coach and an inspiring role model. We can’t wait to see the impact she will have at Trailfinders Women on and off the pitch.”

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