Team Line-up: Jersey Reds (A) Cup

With a change in competition, it doesn’t mean there’s a change in intensity as Ben Ward and his coaching team have named a strong side for our trip to Jersey.

Up front, James Gibbons and Alun Walker will pack down next to George Davis who is making his first start of the season.

Will Montgomery switches from number eight to partner Simon Linsell in the second-row. This allows David Douglas Bridge to come in and make his first Trailfinders start, with match day captain Rob Farrar on the blindside and Simon Uzokwe on the openside.

Craig Hampson and Craig Willis continue at half-back, while Peter Robb and Reuben Bird-Tulloch will make up an exciting, new-look midfield.

The back-three sees James Cordy-Redden and Nathan Earle partner Max Bodilly, who shifts to fullback.

Tomorrow’s game at the State Santander International will kick-off at 2pm. If you are making the trip over, you can buy tickets here. Alternatively, you can follow the live coverage via Twitter.

Ealing Trailfinders team to face Jersey Reds:

15. Max Bodilly

14. Nathan Earle

13. Reuben Bird-Tulloch

12. Peter Robb

11. James Cordy-Redden

10. Craig Willis

9. Craig Hampson

1. James Gibbons

2. Alun Walker

3. George Davis

4. Will Montgomery

5. Simon Linsell

6. Rob Farrar (C)

7. Simon Uzokwe

8. David Douglas Bridge

Replacements:

16. Kevin O’Byrne

17. Will Davis

18. Ross Kane

19. Ollie Newman

20. Jack Digby

21. Jordan Burns

22. Dan Lancaster

23. Steven Shingler

Academy, News

Academy Pathway Seminars

Over the next three months we have a range of virtual seminars for players in our academy pathways and potential new recruits to Brunel University.

Goal Setting / Time Management for an aspiring athlete with Tom Mclaughlin – Thursday 9th March

Tom is the High Performance Manager at Ealing Trailfinders and his talk will provide an insight into professional rugby and how to balance time as an academy athlete. It will also explain some stories of how athletes became successful in rugby.

Topic: Goal Setting and Time Management with Tom Mclaughlin

Time: Mar 9, 2023 06:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting: https://bruneluniversity.zoom.us/j/6539789600

Meeting ID: 653 978 9600

Passcode: ETFPathway

Sports Psychology with Tom Hodgins – Tuesday 28th March

Tom is the club’s performance psychologist and he will lead a discussion with players who have made the journey to first team rugby at Ealing Trailfinders. Throughout the seminar, they will discuss the highs and lows, sharing lessons and tips which will help you along your way.

Topic: Sports Psychology with Tom Hodgins

Time: Mar 28, 2023 07:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting: https://bruneluniversity.zoom.us/j/6539789600

Meeting ID: 653 978 9600

Passcode: ETFPathway

Lessons of experience with past and present Ealing Trailfinders Academy Pathway Players – Tuesday 25th April

This seminar will see pathway players, past and present, speaking about their journey from school rugby to training and playing with the senior rugby squad; lessons they have learned, tips they would have given their Under 18 self and challenges they have faced that have helped them to succeed.

Topic: Lessons of Experience with past and present Academy Pathway Players

Time: Apr 25, 2023 07:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting: https://bruneluniversity.zoom.us/j/6539789600

Meeting ID: 653 978 9600

Passcode: ETFPathway

News, Player of the month

January Player of the Month

After four games to kick off 2023, it’s now time to vote for your January Player of the Month.

The players nominated are:

James Gibbons (Prop)

Rob Farrar (Back-row)

Craig Willis (Fly-Half)

Max Bodilly (Centre)

CLICK HERE to vote for your January Player of the Month.

Voting closes at 5pm on Monday 6th February 2023. The winner will be announced via our website and social media channels in the days after voting closes.

Match Guide, News

Match Guide: Jersey Reds – Cup (A)

Make sure you’re ready for our trip to Jersey this weekend, as we face the Reds in this potential Pool 1 Cup decider.

JERSEY REDS V EALING TRAILFINDERS – CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.

RFU CHAMPIONSHIP CUP- ROUND 4:

Date: Saturday 4th February

Kick-Off: 2pm

Location: Stade Santander International, Jersey

Tickets: Available from £15 – click here to purchase tickets.

Coverage: Live coverage will be available via our Twitter feed.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE OPPOSITION:

Jersey Reds got their Championship Cup campaign of to the best possible start after two strong performances against Nottingham and Hartpury.

Visiting The Bay is tough for any opposition, which makes their 12-38 victory even more impressive! They then returned home to Stade Santander International and ran out comfortable 55-24 victors to make them 2/2.

The final Cup game of the first block came at Trailfinders Sport Club, as the two only undefeated Championship teams locked horns. It was a physical, hard-fought battle which saw Trailfinders eventually edge it 22-13.

Jersey however, put this one defeat behind them and kicked on in the league, keeping up their 100% record all the way up until Christmas Eve when they travelled to TFSC again.

After some weeks off, they started 2023 with an impressive comeback performance away at Coventry, coming back from 19-5 down with seven minutes to go, to draw 19-19. They used this momentum to gain maximum points in the last two league games to close the gap on Trailfinders at the top of the table.

Both Jersey and Trailfinders have strong chances of progressing in the Cup, with there being one ‘best runner-up’ spot, but the winner on Saturday will see themselves in pole position to top Pool 1.

LAST TIME WE MET:

It was just over a month ago that we faced Jersey Reds, as they travelled to TFSC on Christmas Eve. Both sides arrived there unbeaten in the league ahead of this festive blockbuster and it was Reuben Bird-Tulloch who got the hosts off to the perfect start.

Jersey responded immediately to make it 7-5, before almost heading in front from an intercept, but Jonah Holmes did superbly well to hunt down Brendan Owen and tackle him 15 metres before the line. With this momentum, Cian Kelleher was able to score Trailfinders’ second, before Craig Hampson added a third just after the half-hour mark. James Dun was able to dot down just before the break for the visitors to make it 19-12 at half-time.

The second 40 saw the Reds come out of the blocks quickly, but they were unable to capitalise. Then, with their first attack of the half, Hampson sold the most outrageous dummy from close range to grab his brace.

A Craig Willis penalty was then diffused by a third Jersey try, before Hampson put Ross Kane in for his first ever try in professional rugby.

With the game heading for the end, Jersey grabbed their bonus point score, but it was Willis who had the last say as he was bundled over in the final moments before converting his own score, making it Ealing Trailfinders 43-22 Jersey Reds.

FORM GUIDE:

Jersey Reds:

W: Cornish Pirates 25-34 Jersey Reds (Saturday 28th January)

W: Jersey Reds 24-22 London Scottish (Saturday 21st January)

D: Coventry 19-19 Ealing Trailfinders (Saturday 14th January)

Ealing Trailfinders:

L: Ealing Trailfinders 19-22 Coventry (Saturday 28th January)

Click here to watch match highlights.

W: Hartpury 13-26 Ealing Trailfinders (Saturday 21st January)

Click here to watch match highlights.

W: Ealing Trailfinders 35-24 Ampthill (Saturday 14th January)

Click here to watch match highlights.

Match Guide, News

Match Programme: Coventry (H)

Get ready for Saturday’s Championship blockbuster with Coventry by reading our free programme.

CLICK HERE to read this week’s programme.

Click here to follow our LIVE Twitter coverage.

Inside this week’s programme there is:

– Ben Ward’s Welcome

– New Beginnings – Nathan Earle

– Quick Fire Questions – Simon Linsell

– Insight into Coventry

– Three Players To Watch

The links for every programme will be posted across our social media channels and website each week, as well as scannable QR codes around Trailfinders Sports Club. To visit our match programme hub click here.

Click here to purchase tickets for Saturday’s match (KO 3pm).

News, Team Lineup

Team Line-up: Coventry (H)

Ealing Trailfinders have named another strong squad to take on the in-form Coventry at Trailfinders Sports Club.

Third placed Coventry come into the game off the back of an impressive 19-19 draw against Jersey Reds two weeks ago.

In the Trailfinders’ forward pack, there is only one change from last weekend’s victory away at Hartpury, with the league’s top try-scorer Carlo Tizzano replacing Simon Uzokwe, who will look to make a powerful impact from the bench.

This means that James Gibbons, Shaun Malton and Lewis Thiede all combine again in the front-row after the scrum performed so well in the West-Country.

Simon Linsell continues to skipper the team from second-row and will partner Bobby De Wee in the engine room, while Tizzano joins Rob Farrar and Will Montgomery in the back-row.

Craig Hampson and Craig Willis continue at half-back, while Steven Shingler comes in at inside-centre after impressing off the bench last weekend. He will form a strong partnership with the reliable Max Bodilly.

In the back-three, recent arrival Nathan Earle will will be joined by wing Luke Daniels and fullback Jonah Holmes.

Among the replacements, Danny Cutmore and Jordan Burns will look to make a strong impact, while David Douglas Bridge is in line to make his first-team debut.

If you haven’t yet got your tickets for this top of the table clash, click here to purchase. Live coverage will be available throughout the afternoon via Twitter and Instagram.

Ealing Trailfinders team to face Coventry:

15. Jonah Holmes

14. Nathan Earle

13. Max Bodilly

12. Steven Shingler

11. Luke Daniels

10. Craig Willis

9. Craig Hampson

1. James Gibbons

2. Shaun Malton

3. Lewis Thiede

4. Bobby De Wee

5. Simon Linsell (C)

6. Rob Farrar

7. Carlo Tizzano

8. Will Montgomery

Replacements:

16. Jan-Henning Campher

17. Kyle Whyte

18. Jimmy Roots

19. Danny Cutmore

20. Simon Uzokwe

21. Jordan Burns

22. Reuben Bird-Tulloch

23. David Douglas Bridge (Debut)

Match Guide, News

Match Guide: Coventry (H)