Barney Maddison will skipper the side on the occasion of his 50th appearance for the club, while Steven Shingler is also in line to make his half-century from the bench.

Trips to Cornwall are always tough, and so Ben Ward has picked a strong side to travel to The Mennaye. The set-piece battle is often crucial against Pirates, so Kyle Whyte and Lewis Thiede pack down either side of Shaun Malton in the front-row.

In the engine room David O’Connor will partner Barney Maddison, while Jack Digby comes in at blindside after his strong recent form, alongside Simon Uzokwe and Rayn Smid.

Jack Grant makes his first start in the league at scrum-half alongside Craig Willis, while there is a shift in the midfield with David Johnston coming in at 13 to partner Pat Howard.

 

Fresh from representing the Barbarians last weekend, Jonah Holmes starts at fullback, with Luke Daniels and Cian Kelleher on the wings.

Among the replacements are former Pirate Danny Cutmore and the league’s joint top try-scorer Carlo Tizzano.

Tickets for tomorrow’s trip to Cornwall are available here or the game will be available to stream for free via the Championship website. The live stream will be being shown live down at Trailfinders Sports Club so make sure you head down to watch the game alongside other supporters, or alternatively you can follow the minute by minute coverage via our Match Day LIVE.

Ealing Trailfinders team to face Cornish Pirates:

 

15. Jonah Holmes

14. Luke Daniels

13. David Johnston

12. Pat Howard

11. Cian Kelleher

10. Craig Willis

9. Jack Grant

1. Kyle Whyte

2. Shaun Malton

3. Lewis Thiede

4. David O’Connor

5. Barney Maddison (C) – 50th appearance

6. Jack Digby

7. Simon Uzokwe

8. Rayn Smid

Replacements:

 

16. Cam Terry

17. Will Davis

18. Ross Kane

19. Danny Cutmore

20. Rob Farrar

21. Jordan Burns

22. Steven Shingler – 50th appearance

23. Carlo Tizzano

Following on from our strong start to the Championship Cup, it’s now time to vote for your November Player of the Month!

The players nominated are:

David O’Connor (Second-row)

Jack Digby (Back-row)

Craig Willis (Fly-half)

Cian Kelleher (Wing)

CLICK HERE to vote for your Player of the Month.

Voting closes at 5pm on Monday 5th November. The winner will be announced via our website and social media channels in the days after voting closes.

Ealing Trailfinders are delighted to announce The Turmeric Co. have extended their club sponsorship for a further season.

First-team players will continue to reap the full health benefits of the raw turmeric shots which include immune system support, a natural energy boost and inflammation management. These benefits are provided through four different flavours of shots: Raw Turmeric Original, Raw Turmeric & Ginger, Raw Turmeric & Beetroot and Raw Turmeric Vitamin C & D3.

Each variety is created with purposefully selected ingredients, including a potent measure of raw turmeric root as well as flax oil and black pepper to increase the bioavailability of the drink and optimise the health benefits.

The shots will be provided to the whole Ealing Trailfinders squad in convenient 60ml bottles, perfectly designed to be integrated into their daily routines. This will support players through their training and recovery, improving their performance on the pitch.

As well as Ealing Trailfinders, The Turmeric Co. has partnered with numerous elite rugby teams, including union sides Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers as well as league sides Salford Red Devils and St Helens. Other professional sports teams and organisations that are fans of Robson-Kanu’s turmeric shots include Premier League sides Everton and Brentford.

Thomas Robson-Kanu, CEO and Founder of The Turmeric Co., said: “We are thrilled to continue working with our local club, Ealing Trailfinders. Coming off the back of their successful Championship season last year, we look forward to providing elite-level nutritional support through our unique turmeric blends. Trailfinders have developed some world-class rugby players, and our award-winning shots give players that nutritional boost to take their recovery, performance, immunity and energy to the next level. It’s going to be a great season.”

Ben Ward, Managing Director at Ealing Trailfinders, said: “We are very pleased to renew our sponsorship agreement with The Turmeric Co. We were impressed with the quality of their offering last season and our players and staff are even more excited to continue using their shots this Championship campaign to support their health and rugby performance.”

For more information visit: www.theturmeric.co

After a strong start to the Championship Cup, we return to action in the league this week as we make the long trip down to Cornish Pirates.

RFU CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 8

Date: Saturday 3rd December

Kick-Off: 2.30pm

Location: The Mennaye, Cornwall

Tickets: Available from £19 – click here to purchase

Livestream: £7 – click here to purchase

Coverage: Live coverage of the game will be available via our Twitter feed and website

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION:

Originally founded in 1945, Cornish Pirates have become a real force in the English second-tier ever since they were promoted to the league in 2003. Upon the league’s rebrand to become the RFU Championship in 2009, Pirates really begun to challenge for promotion, finishing in the runners up spots in both the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons.

Although there was a slight dip during the mid-2010s which saw them ending up in the mid-table positions, recently they have refound their form, with them finishing third in the last two seasons. Last year, Cornish only lost four matches (the same number as ourselves) but it was their two draws which saw them lose points despite their superb end to the campaign.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Travelling down to the Mennaye is always a tough ask for any opposition in the Championship and this weekend is no exception. Early defeats this year at Jersey Reds and Coventry and at home to Bedford Blues have been rectified and have seen the Pirates not lose in over a month and not lose at home in over two! Their recent 7-62 win at Richmond in particular proved the strength that they possess and it means this Saturday should be an exciting affair.

LAST TIME WE MET:

We faced Cornish Pirates three times last season, with each of us winning our home league games, it meant that the Championship Cup semi-final would be the decider.

We started the game well with Cam Terry crashing over on the back of a rolling maul, but Pirates answered back immediately through Rus Tuima.

The remainder of the first-half solely belonged to us, as Terry got his second, before Reuben Bird-Tulloch set up David Johnston and then Jordan Burns scored our fourth on the stroke of half-time.

With the score at the break being us 26-7 up, we always expected them to come back at us and despite two tries from the visitors, we secured our spot in the final as we ran out 36-26 victors.

FORM GUIDE:

Cornish Pirates:

W: Cornish Pirates 27-18 Ampthill (Sunday 20th November)

W: Caldy 7-26 Cornish Pirates (Saturday 12th November)

W: Richmond 7-62 Cornish Pirates (Saturday 5th November)

Ealing Trailfinders:

W: Ealing Trailfinders 22-13 Cornish Pirates (Saturday 19th November)

Click here to watch match highlights.

W: Nottingham 19-26 Ealing Trailfinders (Sunday 13th November)

Click here to watch match highlights.

W: Ealing Trailfinders 64-10 Hartpury (Sunday 6th November)

Click here to watch match highlights.

Ealing Trailfinders are delighted to announce that Simon Halliday is joining the club as a Strategic Advisor.

Halliday, who is a former England, Bath and Harlequins centre, joins the club having most recently spent six years as Chairman at EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby). During his tenure he helped guide the organisation through the pandemic and secured a new eight-year agreement between the leagues and unions in European rugby before his departure.

When speaking about the appointment, Managing Director of Ealing Trailfinders Professional Rugby Management Ben Ward said: “We are delighted to have Simon joining the club. Over the last nine years, since turning professional, we have continued to grow and invest in our infrastructure and the benefits are being seen.

“Last season our men’s team completed the Championship league-cup double in what was a historic season for the club. We were denied promotion based on flawed criteria with which we did not agree at the time and this has become an issue for all aspiring Championship clubs and must be resolved.

“Over the last couple of years, women’s rugby has become one of the fastest growing sports in the country and it is something we want to be a part of and have invested accordingly. We already have a successful women’s academy based out of Brunel University, as well as strong links to partner schools such as Cardinal Newman and Henley College. Earlier this year we recruited World Cup winner Giselle Mather as our Director of Women’s Rugby and we have submitted our bid for a place in the Women’s Premier 15s ahead of the 2023/24 intake. We have also partnered with our PODs (Places of Development), which are clubs with thriving girl’s sections that we will invest in and support so we can help nurture their talent and create pathways for these players to play for Ealing Trailfinders Women at the highest level.

“We have taken a unique approach to our academy, by having the Trailfinders Rugby Academy also based at Brunel. We have developed the facilities at Brunel so that now they are some of the best in the game and now the men’s team is competing for a place in BUCS Super Rugby. We have partnered with some of the best rugby schools in the world and we are the only professional side in the country to have their Academy based out of a university. We think that allowing our young athletes to combine their rugby with their studies is hugely important as it gives them more options going forward.

“We are extremely proud of everything we are doing as a rugby club. We are ambitious and all our teams want to play at the highest level possible.

“Rugby is at a crossroads currently and has to change. We want to be part of these discussions and I believe Simon can help us with this. We are very fortunate with the support we get from Trailfinders and Sir Mike Gooley. Sir Mike and Simon are both passionate about Rugby Union and its values and we want to be part of ensuring the game is sustainable for future generations to enjoy.”

On joining the club, Halliday said: “I firstly wish to express my excitement to have been asked to assist Ealing Trailfinders at this critical time in their development and I hope this will be the beginning of a long term relationship.

“I am most impressed with their strong commitment to the men’s and women’s game, their best in class academy and most importantly the surrounding community. They epitomise the model rugby club.

“Another fundamental reason I am getting involved is to help them realise their considerable ambitions.

“The game is in crisis right now, at pretty much every level and we must effect sustainable change. Ealing Trailfinders, and the Championship clubs in general, who have always represented the fabric of our game, must be at the forefront of the solution. I have been struck by the lack of consideration for this key area of our game and the administrators have not been listening. I look forward to helping represent the justifiable ambitions of Ealing Trailfinders while working alongside the Championship clubs and the whole leadership of our game in England.

“The long term future can be very bright, but only if the game genuinely comes together in the immediate term. The work starts now.”

Join us from 10.30 on the day before the big day for a delicious, buffet-style brunch!

After the excitement and intensity of our Championship Cup clash against Jersey Reds, where we emerged 22-13 victors, make sure you join us for the next chapter as we face them in the league on Christmas Eve, get your tickets for the game here.

As well as a great game of rugby, why not join us in hospitality before the match, so that you don’t have to worry about food arrangements the day before Christmas!

The game will kick off at the slightly earlier time of midday, to help our visitors catch the last flight home, and so we will be serving a buffet-style hospitality brunch from 10.30am.

Upon your arrival in the Olympic Pavilion, you will be greeted with a glass of Prosecco or orange juice, before you begin tucking into a selection of breads, bagels and pastries or you can turn to some pancakes with a range of different toppings and some mini muffins.

For mains, there is smoked salmon, sausages and bacon all available, as well as poached eggs, sliced avocado, sautéed garlic mushrooms, spinach and a red pepper and goat’s cheese egg roulade.

Round your brunch off with some piping hot coffee or tea, with some mini chocolate brownies, before you head outside to catch the game!

Brunch will cost just £22.50 per person and you can book your place by emailing: hospitality@etprm.com

Our sponsors SHOOTS & LEAVES are offering £10 off all their Christmas Trees this year for everyone associated with Ealing Trailfinders.

On top of this, they will also donate £5 to the Ealing Trailfinders Foundation for every tree sold using the discount!

Simply enter the code ‘RUGBY’ on their website on the Christmas Tree page or present a ‘RUGBY’ voucher at their Cleveland Park (Argyle Road) or, Acton Park (Acton Vale).

The Ealing Trailfinders Foundation does a lot of great work in and around the local community and this donation will go to help support holiday multi-sport camps’ training meals for underprivileged children.

To make the most of this great offer, click here to purchase your Christmas Tree!

Ealing Trailfinders are delighted to announce the signing of exciting winger Eparama Rokodrava on a long-term deal.

Eparama was part way though his first season with Wasps but has now made the move over to Trailfinders and has already begun training with the squad.

Despite being only 18 years of age, Eparama weighs in at 114kg and is 1.87m tall. He came through the rugby programme at the City of Oxford College and has represented England U18 and was part of an England U20 training camp earlier this year.

Despite still being relatively new to pro-rugby, Eparama is a very exciting young talent. His skill set is superb, with an incredible offloading game, pace to burn and an impressive level of physicality, everyone at the club is excited to see him run out in green and white.

When speaking about his move to Ealing, Eparama said: “I’m thrilled to have joined Ealing at such an exciting time for the club.

“From all the discussions that I’ve had with everyone here, I’ve been really impressed by the ambition of the club, especially as it matches my own and I’m eager to get started.”

Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “We’re really pleased to have secured the signing of one of the most exciting prospects in English rugby.

“Some of the attributes and the skillset he poses can’t be taught, and although he’s not the finished article just yet, we’re really excited to see how he progresses in the future.”

Vote for your Ealing Trailfinders Player of the Month for October.

Following on from another successful set of fixtures, it’s now time to vote for your October Player of the Month!

The players nominated are:

Shaun Malton (Hooker)

Rayn Smid (Number 8)

Reuben Bird-Tulloch (Centre)

Jonah Holmes (Fullback / Wing)

CLICK HERE to vote for your Player of the Month.

Voting closes at 5pm on Monday 7th November. The winner will be announced via our website and social media channels in the days after voting closes.

The club would like to invite Wasps and Worcester Warriors season ticket holders the opportunity to attend Ealing Trailfinders home games FREE of charge for the remainder of the 2022/23 Championship season.

The offer will come into effect immediately and free tickets can be claimed ahead of this Saturday’s Halloween fixture against Nottingham at Trailfinders Sports Club.

How To Claim Free Ticket: To gain your free ticket for the 2021/22 season, please CLICK HERE to fill out a short information form. The club will then send you your free access code.

For assistance please email: info@etprm.com

We look forward to welcoming you all to Trailfinders Sports Club!

 

To view our upcoming Championship fixtures click here.

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