Congratulations to Trailfinders Pathway student athletes Hayley Jones (Henley College), Holly Jackson (Cardinal Newman), Isla Pomroy (City of Oxford), Summer Charlesworth (City of Oxford), Jo Vosakiwaiwai (City of Oxford), and Josephine Harris (City of Oxford) who have all been selected for England to face Italy and Ireland on Matchday 1 of the U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival 2025 at Wellington College. 

Scarlett Down (Cardinal Newman), and Mary Rudd (Henley College) have been selected for Scotland, and Lucia Dickinson (Cardinal Newman) has been selected for Ireland. We wish everyone selected the best of luck through the festival.

Supporters can stream the U18 Festival live on the Six Nations U20 YouTube channel, with tickets available at all three match days of the women’s festival free of charge.

We are delighted to announce that scrum-half Brooke Bradley has signed a contract extension, reinforcing her commitment to the club.

Since joining from Exeter Chiefs, Bradley has brought experience and composure to the squad, having made 57 appearances for the Chiefs and winning two Allianz Cups during her time there.

A versatile and intelligent playmaker, she has also featured at full-back, showcasing her skill set across the backline.

Bradley previously played for Worcester Warriors before establishing herself at Exeter. Her performances earned her a call-up to the Red Roses’ Six Nations training squad in 2024, having already represented England at U20 level.

Currently sidelined with a hamstring injury since October, Bradley is working hard on her return to action and is eager to make an impact when back on the pitch.

Reflecting on her new deal, Bradley said:

“I’m really excited to be staying at Trailfinders Women. It’s been a frustrating time with injury, but I feel really supported here, and I can’t wait to get back out there with the squad and contribute to what we’re building.”

Head Coach, Barney Maddison, added:

“Brooke has had a tough year with injury, but the impact she has on the squad is massive. She’s an integral part of the team, both on and off the pitch, and we’re delighted she’s staying with us. We’re looking forward to seeing her back out there soon.”

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Fraser Brown as Scrum Coach for both Ealing Trailfinders and Trailfinders Women.

A former Scotland international, Brown brings a wealth of top-level playing and coaching experience to the club. 

At the club level, Brown had an outstanding tenure with Glasgow Warriors, making 141 appearances over 12 seasons. 

He was a key figure in the squad’s historic Guinness PRO12 title-winning campaign in 2014/15, when Glasgow became the first Scottish club to lift major silverware.

On the international stage, Brown earned 61 caps for Scotland, representing his country at multiple levels. 

After captaining the U20 side in the 2009 Six Nations, he won his first senior cap against Italy. 

He went on to play in both the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups, featuring in all nine matches across the two tournaments. 

He reached a personal milestone in 2020, earning his 50th cap in a Six Nations victory over France, before captaining Scotland later that year against Georgia at Murrayfield.

Since transitioning into coaching, Brown has built a strong reputation in the forwards and set-piece departments. 

While still playing for Glasgow, he took on a coaching role with Super Series side Watsonians, specialising in forwards and breakdown work. 

He has also worked with Warriors’ women’s side and was brought in as a consultant coach for Scotland Women.

Now, as he embarks on this new chapter at Trailfinders, Brown is eager to pass on his expertise and continue his pursuit of success in a coaching capacity.

Speaking on his appointment, Brown said:

“I’m really excited to be joining Ealing Trailfinders. The club has big ambitions, and I’m looking forward to helping develop the set-piece across both the men’s and women’s teams.

The opportunity to work across both teams, to be able to work with and develop the players every day, and to continue to grow my own abilities as a coach is something I’m thoroughly looking forward to.”

Director of Rugby, Ben Ward said:

“Fraser is a key appointment for the club. He brings elite-level experience and real pedigree in the set-piece. He is currently working with some of our players in the Six Nations with Scotland, and his expertise will be an invaluable asset and be a great benefit to both our men’s and women’s sides.

We’re looking forward to welcoming Fraser to the Club after the tournament.”

Ealing Trailfinders name their lineup to take on Ampthill in Round 15 of the Championship at Dillingham Park.

Ben Ward makes five changes to the starting XV that played Nottingham last week.

The front-row remains unchanged. Mike Willemse captains the side from hooker with Elliot Chilvers and Biyi Alo packing down either side of him.

Bobby De Wee returns to the side to partner Matas Jurevicius.

Rob Farrar comes back into the side, Josh Taylor moves to number eight and Jordy Reid completes the back-row.

Michael Stronge retains the scrum-half shirt and Dan Jones returns to start at fly-half.

Jordan Holgate returns from injury to join Reuben Bird-Tulloch in the centres.

Tom Collins and Ben Harris start on the wings, with Michael Dykes keeping his place at fullback.

Ealing Trailfinders to face Ampthill:

1. Elliot Chilvers
2. Mike Willemse (c)
3. Biyi Alo
4. Bobby De Wee
5. Matas Jurevicius
6. Rob Farrar
7. Jordy Reid
8. Josh Taylor
9. Michael Stronge
10. Dan Jones
11. Tom Collins
12. Jordan Holgate
13. Reuben Bird-Tulloch
14. Ben Harris
15. Michael Dykes
16. Cam Terry
17. Kyle Whyte
18. Adam Nicol
19. Geordie Irvine
20. Siya Ningiza
21. Craig Hampson
22. Craig Willis
23. Angus Kernohan

The makeup of next season’s expanded Championship has been confirmed.

After two years of intensive work, the Tier 2 Board with the RFU and Championship clubs, is announcing a new and improved league, starting next season, with a vision to inspire and engage current and future generations of rugby fans, while also bringing commercial sustainability and growth to its clubs.

An open tender to the whole game, approved by RFU Council, has been conducted in recent months to join the league from 2025-26, if the league’s minimum operating standards and growth strategy are met.

As a result, from next season the league will be made up of 14 teams which will include all 12 current Championship clubs, the promoted National League 1 club (subject to meeting the league’s Minimum Operating Standards) and Worcester Warriors.  The club is under new ownership, after the new owner bought the rugby assets from the administrator of the insolvent entity, and brings with it exciting new plans, as well as seeing Championship rugby strengthened in the West Midlands.

Worcester Warriors has been through a rigorous process for selection into Tier 2.  As part of the conditions to join the league, the club’s new ownership has provided a financial security guarantee, held by the RFU, as well committed to paying off debts left by the previous owners to rugby creditors. In addition, the new owners have already made substantial payments to the administrators and have entered into an agreement with the relevant parties which will result in the remaining contractual funds from the administration being paid to DCMS and HMRC by the end of the year.

Starting in the 2025-26 season, the Tier 2 Board will both launch the league and drive further improvements in the Minimum Operating Standards for the clubs and the league, with a phased approach to its development allowing time to establish club composition.

Simon Gillham, Tier 2 Board Chair stated: “The vision for this league is really ambitious and so much work and collaboration has taken place over nearly two years to establish a path towards a vibrant and self-sustaining competition.

“Today marks a significant step forward with Worcester Warriors returning to professional rugby under new ownership in a heartland for our sport with the club’s new owners having provided a financial security guarantee, held by the RFU, as well committing to paying off debts left by the previous owners to rugby creditors.

“Worcester Warriors brings with them a fanbase, history, commercial value and infrastructure that will be important to the league; we’re really pleased see their return to professional rugby as I’m sure are their fans.

“National 1 is a highly competitive league with some ambitious clubs and we look forward to welcoming the promoted club from National 1 as well as continued collaboration with the current Championship clubs into next season.

“There is a great deal still to achieve and we will be working at pace over the coming months to prepare for the 2025-26 season and beyond.”

Tier 2 Board member and RFU Council Member for the Championship Clubs, Simon Cohen said: “Current Championship clubs have worked diligently over much of the past year to reach the new standards we’ve set for the league and I thank them for all their hard work.  Our league comprises many vibrant clubs, some of whom aspire to reach the Premiership and we need to support them to achieve this by developing a thriving and commercially viable league.  Our plans very much aim to do this, and I look forward to working with existing Championship clubs and our two incoming clubs to realise this goal.”

Christopher Holland, Worcester Warriors owner said: “We are really pleased to be bringing rugby back to Worcester and have made significant progress in stabilising the Sixways business as well as successfully navigating the detailed application process for entry of the club into the second tier of professional rugby in England.

“After careful consideration we chose to make the application to the new league under the name Worcester Warriors to preserve its history and legacy. As a result, we are required to settle rugby creditors and acknowledge and fully own this process and the responsibility that comes with it.

“We now enter a defined period in which to provide financial guarantees, and to identify, validate, and agree all inherited rugby creditors. The completion of this process is the key to success and requires the collective support of all involved. We are committed to resolving this swiftly.”

John Inverdale, Chair of National League Rugby and RFU Council Member for National League Rugby, said: “Driving up standards and supporting clubs to develop in all aspects that will see them thrive is crucial in a competitive commercial landscape. I am hugely supportive of the goals of the Tier 2 board and I’ve no doubt that the promoted National 1 club will add great value to the league next season.”

Further details on competition format, new branding and commercial strategy will be announced as we move towards the new season.