The Ealing Trailfinders Foundation announce the double header as a Foundation Day!

The double header on Saturday is officially a Ealing Trailfinders Foundation Day!

The Ealing Trailfinders Foundation is making lives better through sport, and we want your help. The foundation has engaged more than 28000 children in our programmes with over 800 hours of free coaching offered to 71 schools across West London.

With every purchase at the bar on Saturday you can donate to the Foundation and every £1 can make a huge difference to a Childs life.

We mentor 87 at risk teens through our sport programmes and support 54 vulnerable adults and young people through our mixed ability rugby programme. Every donation you make could make a big difference to their lives.

Thank you so much and we hope to see you there!

Ealing Trailfinders in partnership with Brunel University are looking to appoint an Academy Operations Manager to oversee all operational duties of the Trailfinders Rugby Academy.

Movember is our time to unite. Our fathers, partners, brothers and friends are facing a health crisis, yet it’s rarely talked about. Men are dying too young. We can’t afford to stay silent.

That’s why this year Ealing Trailfinders players and staff are taking part in Movember. Throughout November the lads will be raising money by growing moustaches and you will be able to track our progress on social media.

Movember is a charity that is tackling issues such as mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Please support our campaign and give however much you can.

 

Click here to donate.

Ealing Trailfinders are to host Leicester Tigers in the Premiership Cup Semi-Final after qualifying as top-seeds.

 

Premiership Rugby can confirm the decision by the Tournament Organiser of the Premiership Rugby Cup in respect of the match result and allocated League Points. For the following matches:

Round 4 Match on Friday 29th September 2023:

Cornish Pirates 20 (4 tries) – 0 Jersey Reds (Cornish Pirates get 5 League Points)

Round 5 Match on Friday 6th October 2023:

Jersey Reds 0 – 20 (4 tries) Ealing Trailfinders (Ealing Trailfinders get 5 League Points)

For the final pool standings, click here.

 

As a result, the Premiership Rugby Cup semi-finals will take place as follows:

Saturday 17th February (Live on TNT Sports)

15:05 Gloucester Rugby v Exeter Chiefs

Sunday 18th February (Live on TNT Sports)

15:00 Ealing Trailfinders v Leicester Tigers

 

Stay up-to-date with our social media for ticket information!

Trailfinders are pleased to announce the signing of back row Richard Hardwick following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The Namibian international joins following a successful spell with Super Rugby’s Melbourne Rebels, collecting 67 appearances.

Bringing a wealth of experience, Hardwick started his professional career at Western Force and has played in Super Rugby consistently since 2015/16.

The back-row is a destructive ball carrier, scoring a brace against the Hurricanes in this year’s edition of the Southern Hemisphere’s top rugby competition.

After being born in the Namibian capital, Windhoek, the 29-year-old grew up in Perth, Western Australia and managed to win two caps for the Wallabies in 2016/17 before qualifying for Namibia for this year’s World Cup.

After signing for Trailfinders, Hardwick said: “I am really excited to join the team post World Cup. It looks like we have a great team and have a real opportunity to move forward as a club.

“I love the direction the club is going with their performances and eagerness to win. We have world class facilities, coaching staff, support staff and management.

Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “I’m delighted to bring Richard Hardwick to Trailfinders.

“He is an all action back rower who brings a threat with his carry and jackal. His contribution per game are really high and I think he will contribute to our environment. I am looking forward to watching him for Namibia in the World Cup.”

2023/24 season tickets are now on sale giving fans the opportunity to secure their seat for a blockbuster campaign!

Season Ticket memberships are the best value way of watching the winners of the 2022/23 Championship Cup in action at home in West London.

 

Season Ticket Benefits:

  • Entry to the home Premiership Cup pool matches
  • Entry to all home leagues matches
  • Two ‘Bring a Friend for Free’ passes
  • Invitations to special events

 

Ahead of the inaugural Premiership Women’s Rugby season, Trailfinders fans have the exciting chance to book their tickets for every women’s home game with a combined ticket for both teams.

Individual Season Tickets for Trailfinders Women will be available to purchase from August.

Don’t miss a singe game and guarantee your seat now: BOOK HERE

 

If you have any queries regarding the 2023/24 Season Tickets, please email: info@etprm.com.

Trailfinders are pleased to announce the signing of Mike Willemse.

Willemse is a South African hooker who joins having played most recently in the Premiership for London Irish where he made 15 appearances since signing in 2021.

In his first campaign with London Irish, he featured heavily, including playing in all six of their games during the Exile’s run to the 2022 Premiership Cup final, which they agonisingly lost in extra time.

Before coming to the U.K, the hooker was a dominant force in the southern hemisphere. He practiced his craft at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth.

2013 proved to be a breakout season for Willemse, scoring three tries in six starts during the Varsity Cup for the UCT Ikey Tigers.

He would then go on to be included in the South Africa U20s squad for the 2013 Junior World Championship where he played in three games, and scored twice against the United States.

In 2014, he was called up to the Stormers Super Rugby Squad and would go on to make four appearances before moving to the Eastern Province Kings, Golden Lions, and then the Southern Kings.

After eight tries and 42 appearances for Southern Kings, Willemse moved to Edinburgh for two seasons where he scored six times in 40 games, before then moving down to Irish.

After signing with Trailfinders, Willemse said: “I’m excited to get going with another ambitious club London.

“I’ve learned a lot since moving to the U.K and I’m looking forward to bringing that knowledge to Trailfinders as we hunt for silverware.”

Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Mike to the pack. He will provide tremendous competition across the front row as well boosting our set-piece and being a force in the loose.

“It’s great to sign someone of his pedigree and he will be a fine addition to this group of players.”

Trailfinders Women are delighted to announce the signing of USA Eagle Meya Bizer.

The fly-half, who can also play in the centres or at fullback, will bring a wealth of experience from the 7s and 15s game, having been capped for the United States in both disciplines.

Bizer first picked up a rugby ball at the age of 16 and when the 7s residency programme was established in 2012, she decided to purse rugby as a career. Even before she turned 18, the American had received her first cap for 7s and then replicated this in 15s a couple of months later.

Since her first appearances, the 30-year-old has gone on to win 27 caps for the 15s team and 13 for the 7s side in an Eagles jersey. Her rugby has taken her to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and two World Cups, most recently in New Zealand last year where the United States reached the quarter-finals.

Following the World Cup, Bizer was one of five Eagles to sign with Premier 15s side DMP Sharks. In 12 appearances, she scored one try and picked up a star player award.

Recently, she was named in the Eagles traveling squad for their test against Spain, and for the 2023 Pacific Four Series. Bizer was in the starting line-up when her side beat Spain 20-14.

On signing with Trailfinders Women, Bizer said: “Last year was my first in the Premier 15s, and I wouldn’t trade that experience.

“This next season I’m beyond excited to be with Trailfinders. I’m honoured to be a part of something for its first year in the Prem.

“It’s a great opportunity to set the foundations for the direction the club wants to go in the future.”

Director of Women’s Rugby Giselle Mather said: “Meya is a very exciting player on both sides of the ball.

“Her physicality in defence makes her a fan favourite, and in attack she enjoys playing close to the line and has an eye for a gap. This, coupled with excellent offloading skills, makes her a constant threat to her opponents.

“We are very much looking forward to bringing her international experience, skill set and energy to TFSC.”

Trailfinders Women are pleased to have announced the signing of exciting back Sophie Ragg.

The centre, who is also more than comfortable playing on the wing, first started playing rugby after attending a Talent Transfer camp for the England 7s.

After impressing on the camp and then falling in love with the game, she begun to excel in both 7s and 15s which led to her being given the opportunity to study in America alongside her rugby.

She moved to Dartmouth College, where she spent five years studying Biology with a focus on Zoology and Environmental Conservation. During her time in New Hampshire, she was appointed joint captain of the first team and led the team to three National Championship Titles.

Since graduating she has been playing in the Premier Rugby 7s in America for the Pittsburg Steeltoes.

When speaking about moving to West-London, Ragg said: “I am so excited to be returning to England and playing for Trailfinders at what is such an exciting time for women’s rugby in this country.

“Joining this brand new team is such a great opportunity to create something incredible and I can’t wait to get started.”

Director of Women’s Rugby Giselle Mather said: “Sophie is a hugely driven, self-motivated athlete who is going to do great things in the Premier 15s.

“Her boundless energy and ability to see the positive in all situations, as well as her passion for hard work will make a huge impact at Trailfinders, both on and off the field. I can’t wait for her to get started!”

Trailfinders Women are delighted to announce the signing of French International Elisa Riffonneau.

The hooker, who has also played for France U20s, joins Abby DowLiz CrakeRowena BurnfieldKie Tamai and Tyson Beukeboom in bringing international experience to Trailfinders Sports Club next year.

Despite her quick rise to international honours, Riffonneau didn’t actually take up rugby until the age of 14, when she went to her local club, USJ. After loving it from the outset, her move to Rennes for high school allowed her to join Stade Rennais rugby club.

Stade Rennais have several sides, with their first team competing in Élite 1, the top league for women’s rugby in France; another side in the French third division and then an U18s and an U15s level.

Riffonneau has been playing at Stade Rennais for the last five seasons, slowly progressing through their various sides. Last season, when she had finished school, she was called up to and was capped by the French U20s side before she then was part of the French wider training squad ahead of last year’s World Cup.

Despite not being named in the final 32, Riffonneau did then make her French debut earlier this year, as she played against Ireland in April in the Tik Tok Women’s Six Nations.

As well as playing rugby next year, Riffonneau will also be studying at Brunel University, further cementing the link between the West London uni and the club.

When speaking about joining the club, Riffonneau said: “I’m very happy to be joining Trailfinders as I take on this new adventure.

“Having only really played in France before, I’m looking forward to discovering these new experiences and testing myself in English rugby”.

Director of Women’s Rugby Giselle Mather said: Elisa has made outstanding progress this season and will join us brimming with confidence.

“To gain her first French cap in the front row at such a young age is a remarkable achievement and we can’t wait to help her continue that upward development curve and to see her challenge herself in the Premier15s.”