Ealing Trailfinders are delighted to announce the signing of centre Tyler Bocks from the URC’s Emirates Lions ahead of the 2024/25 season.

23 years of age, Bocks made his Currie Cup Premier Division debut for the Golden Lions against Western Province in 2022.

Named in the 2023/24 Lions URC squad, he is known for his defensive stability whilst being dangerous in attack.

Bocks represented the Junior Springboks in 2021, having previously played for the South African schools team in the Under-18s International Series in 2019.

On arrival in West London, Bocks said: “I’m very excited to be joining Ealing Trailfinders and to play in England. The quality of rugby is high and it’s the perfect environment for me to keep on improving my game at a competitive level. I look forward to meeting all of you and helping the club reach continued success and win trophies”

Ealing Trailfinders Director of Rugby Ben Ward added: “Tyler is an exciting signing for the club. He is an abrasive centre who hits hard and can get us on the front foot.”

England Rugby can today confirm the 32 Red Roses players under contract for the 2024/25 season.

Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs), who earned five international caps in the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, has been awarded her maiden full-time England contract, as has two-time capped prop Liz Crake (Trailfinders Women).

Twenty nine of the 32 featured in the Red Roses’ successful Grand Slam-winning Six Nations triumph.

Last year the Red Roses, in collaboration with the Rugby Players Association, agreed a three-season agreement up to June 2026. This included salaries, match fees, Rugby World Cup 2025 arrangements, commercial and community engagement initiatives as well as an agreement around revenue sharing if business targets are exceeded.

In addition to the full-time contracts, eight players have secured transition contracts. Liz Hanlon (Exeter Chiefs) – a Red Roses debutant in the 88-10 victory over Ireland at Twickenham Stadium in April – England Under-20 back row Steph Else and England Women’s youngest cap Mia Venner (both Gloucester-Hartpury) are new faces among the transition list.

These contracts support aspiring Red Roses in their early professional journey, and safeguard some of their week for dedicated rugby development. 

Head of Women’s Performance, Charlie Hayter, said: “This Red Roses group is extremely competitive, and the standards continue to go from strength to strength, as evidenced in this year’s Six Nations.

“Everyone involved in the programme is dedicated and committed to the journey that lies ahead, and striving towards a common purpose of growing the game in this country and contest the right to be successful at next year’s home Rugby World Cup.

“Before then, the immediate focus is on best preparing ourselves for our September fixtures against world class opposition in France and New Zealand, before heading to WXV 1 in Canada.”

Red Roses Head Coach, John Mitchell, added: “We trust each other and our style of rugby, and have belief our game is working for us.

“There is still a lot of room for growth in us and we have taken a lot of learning from our last Test match against France to move us forward.

 “We are focused and determined to climb again and take our game to another level.”

Centrally Contracted Trailfinders

Liz Crake 
Abby Dow 

Ealing Trailfinders are pleased to announce the signing of back rower Tomiwa Agbongbon on a long-term contract, joining the club from Loughborough University’s BUCS Super Rugby side ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Born in New Jersey but raised in Essex, Agbongbon has studied at Loughborough University since 2021, studying Mathematics, Accounting and Financial Management alongside playing for the BUCS Super Rugby side.

In 2021/22, Tomiwa joined Leicester Tigers ahead of the opening round of the Premiership Rugby Cup campaign, where he made five appearances.

Agbongbon then went onto make one appearance the following season for Major League Rugby side Houston Sabercats and has since returned this season for another stint with one of the best sides in the MLR.

While he missed out on the BUCS Super Rugby Championship final victory over Exeter this year due to his MLR commitments, he played a key role in their season’s success.

Following his signing with the club, Agbongbon said: “I’m looking forward to being in an environment where I’ll be pushed and can work on improving each week.”

Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “Tomiwa is an explosive back row who we believe can develop into an excellent rugby player for Ealing Trailfinders. I’m excited to see how he grows over his time here.”

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Ealing Trailfinders are delighted to announce the signing of lock forward Ehize Ehizode from fellow Championship side Doncaster Knights ahead of the 2024/25 season.

The highly experienced forward came through the Wasps academy, representing them at Under-18s and A-League levels. He also spent time at the Bristol Bears academy before gaining game time at Dings Crusaders and Hartpury.

Ehizode’s career has traversed many sides in the Championship, having played for the newly promoted Chinnor and London Scottish before joining Doncaster Knights in 2022.

The 26-year-old has made just under half a century of appearances for the Knights across all competitions and was named Supporter’s Player of the Year for the 22/23 season.

Following his signing for the club, Ehizode said: “I’m excited to be joining Ealing next season. For the past two years I have been at Doncaster Knights, I’ve enjoyed my development as a player and as an individual, and I’m grateful to the past and present coaching staff who helped with my development. I’m looking forward to working with a new coaching staff, a new challenge in a new environment which will push me to excel as a player.”

Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “Ehize has impressed us a lot at Doncaster and has been a mainstay in one of the teams battling at the top of the table for the past couple of seasons. I hope he can carry on this form at Ealing Trailfinders next season.”

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