The warrior second rower Bobby de Wee has been putting in the hours along with the wider Trailfinders squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.
The revised Champ Rugby format for the upcoming season means that there will be more league games and more battles for the title.
“We had a nice little off-season. All the boys were raring to get back in,” de Wee said.
Pre-season 2025/26
“We’ve been back now for the last four weeks and I think that the boys have worked incredibly hard.
“The first week of pre-season is obviously quite daunting with the various testing and the broncos that we have to do. The boys got straight into their conditioning and getting their bodies battle-proof for the long season that lies ahead.
“The boys are pitching up everyday and they’re definitely working hard.
“I had an ongoing issue with my wrist last year that required surgery. It unfortunately ended my season a little bit earlier than I was hoping for but I’m in the latter stages of my rehabilitation now.
“I’m working hard to get my body ready to join the boys back on the pitch ahead of this season. I want to make sure I’m doing all the work I can on the pitch and in the gym to make sure that my body is good to go.”
The revised league that will consist of 14 teams rather than 12 will provide more playing opportunities for the wider squad.
“Personally, I’m very excited for the new Champ Rugby format. I think it’s brilliant and exactly what the league needed. It’s a breath of fresh air, if you want to call it that,” de Wee commented.
“As a club, we want more high-pressure games and to put ourselves into those sorts of situations.”
Joining Champ Rugby is newly promoted London side Richmond and West Midlands club Worcester Warriors after coming under new ownership.
“With Worcester Warriors joining the Champ, it adds another element to the league,” de Wee said.
“As a club, Worcester have recruited quite well over the summer. They will definitely be a fixture that we’ll have our eyes on.
“With the new league and format, I think this season will go down to the wire. A win or a loss in the final week of the season could potentially change who’s in those top spots. We will want to secure a home semi-final and to make sure that we are in that home semi-final play-off spot come the end of the season.”
Ealing Trailfinders have been back-to-back Championship winners in the last two years. Whilst the goal will be to secure the triple, de Wee knows the challenge that faces the players. But he knows that the entire club will put all their efforts into positioning themselves to secure the trophy for a third year running.
“I think ultimately having won the Championship for the last two years you have a bit of a target on your back. That’s unfortunately the pressure you have as a champion.”
“We can only control what we can control: turning up everyday, putting in the hard work throughout the season.
“We’ll work towards securing a home semi-final spot and then it’s knock-out rugby and anything can happen.
“We’ll just keep doing what we’re doing and put our best foot forward.”
The pre-season fixtures kick-off with Chinnor (A) on 12th September at 19:30.
Click here to see the 2025/26 fixtures.
