News - Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club

PRE-SEASON FIXTURE: CONNACHT VS EALING TRAILFINDERS

Ealing Trailfinders will travel to Ireland to play URC side Connacht in a pre-season friendly.

On Saturday 5 September, Trailfinders will play their first pre-season fixture against Connacht.

The match will take place at Dexcom Stadium with a 5pm kick-off.

Director of Rugby Ben Ward said:

‘We are excited to travel over to Ireland and face Connacht as part of our pre-season preparation ahead of the challenging Champ season ahead.

‘The fixture will be a good challenge for us and help us to measure where we stand as a squad.’

BO WESTCOMBE EVANS SIGNS FOR TRAILFINDERS

English winger Bo Westcombe Evans signs for Trailfinders ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Westcombe Evans moves to West London from the East Midlands after representing Loughborough Lightning in the PWR last season.

The winger finished the regular PWR 2025/26 season as joint top try-scorer with 12 tries in 16 appearances.

Westcombe Evans was awarded her first Red Roses cap in September 2024 and was recalled to the England squad for the most recent Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

She offers further depth, speed and versatility to the Trailfinders back three.

On signing for the Club, Westcombe Evans said:

“I’m extremely excited to join Trailfinders at a very exciting time for the Club.”

“I can’t wait to get started and hopefully compliment the team with my attacking ability.”

Head Coach Barney Maddison said:

“Bo is a very exciting player who we’ve admired for a while. She’s someone who will bring pace and try-scoring-ability to our side alongside having a positive impact on the squad off-field too.”

“She’s got bags of potential and Trailfinders is the perfect place for her to grow and develop as a player whilst also bringing her unique attacking flair to our exciting backline.”

News

CONFIRMED CHAMP FIXTURES FOR ROUNDS 1-15

Elior Champ Rugby has confirmed the fixture dates and times for Rounds 1-15.

Ealing Trailfinders will kick-off their 2026/27 Champ campaign against Chinnor on Saturday 19 September with a kick-off time of 5pm.

The West London derby on Sunday 27 September against Richmond at 2pm will see Trailfinders play their first home game of the campaign.

The men in green and white travel to Cornish Pirates for Round 3 and face Hartpury at home the following weekend.

Trailfinders travel to Blackheath in Round 5.

A spooky Saturday fixture on Halloween will see Trailfinders welcome Doncaster Knights in Round 6 of the competition.

Ampthill host Trailfinders on Armistice weekend in Round 7.

Coventry will be the visitors at TFSC in Round 8. The following weekend, Trailfinders travel to Merseyside to face Caldy.

Rounds 10 and 11 will see Trailfinders take on Worcester Warriors at Sixways Stadium followed by Bedford Blues at TFSC.

For the pre-Christmas fixture, Trailfinders will travel up the M1 to face newly promoted Rotherham Titans.

The newly revised format of home and away reverse fixtures will be played over the Christmas period. On Boxing Day weekend, Trailfinders host Nottingham and play the reverse fixture a week later at The Bay on New Years Day.

Round 15 is Rivals Round where Ealing Trailfinders host Worcester Warriors on home turf.

Kick-off times have been standardised by the league to give league supporters an opportunity to watch a breadth of Elior Champ Rugby for the 2026/27 season.

Rounds 16-26 will be confirmed in due course by the league.

Confirmed fixtures and kick-off times

Round 1 – Chinnor, Saturday 19 September, 5pm

Round 2 – Richmond, Sunday 27 September, 2pm

Round 3 – Cornish Pirates, Saturday 3 October, 3pm

Round 4 – Hartpury, Sunday 11 October, 4pm

Round 5 – Blackheath, Saturday 17 October, 3pm

Round 6 – Doncaster Knights, Saturday 31 October, 3pm

Round 7 – Ampthill, Saturday 7 November, 6pm

Round 8 – Coventry, Sunday 15 November, 2pm

Round 9 – Caldy, Saturday 21 November, 1pm

Round 10 – Worcester Warriors, Saturday 5 December, 3pm

Round 11 – Bedford Blues, Saturday 12 December, 3pm

Round 12 – Rotherham Titans, Saturday 19 December, 3pm

Round 13 – Nottingham, Sunday 27 December, 2pm

Round 14 – Nottingham, Friday 1 January, 3pm

Round 15 – Worcester Warriors, Saturday 23 January, 3pm

News, Women's News

FIXTURES CONFIRMED FOR JAECOO NEXT GEN CUP

Trailfinders Women will face Bristol Bears and Gloucester-Hartpury in the pool stages of the JAECOO Next Gen Cup.

In Round One of the competition, Trailfinders Women travel to the West Country to face Bristol Bears on Saturday 19 September.

Round Two is a bye week for Trailfinders before they return to home soil in Round Three for a West London Derby against Harlequins.

There’s another bye week in Round Four for Trailfinders ahead of a return to the West Country to face Gloucester-Hartpury in Round Five of the competition on Saturday 18 October.

The winners and runners-up of the pools A and B will progress into the semi-finals.

News, Women's News

TRAILFINDERS WOMEN SIGN TEYA ASHWORTH

Trailfinders Women are delighted to announce the signing of lock Teya Ashworth.

Ashworth is an English lock who has recently returned to England from Canada. She has spent the last three years with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.

Ashworth has experience in the English system after representing Harlequins from 2018-2019 and DMP Sharks from 2019-2020.

With a strong work rate at the breakdown and a great ability to secure loose ball, Ashworth will add further depth to the Trailfinders engine room for the upcoming season.

On signing for the Club, Ashworth said:

‘I’m very excited to join Trailfinders Women. They had a brilliant 2025/26 season and I’m looking forward to getting involved and contributing to the team.’

Trailfinders Women Head Coach Barney Maddison said:

‘Teya is a product of the highly thought after UBC rugby programme over in Canada who have produced many a Canadian international. She has been a standout player for them all season.

‘I’m really looking forward to seeing Teya over here in the PWR and helping her grow her game.’

News

TEN TRAILFINDERS RE-SIGN AHEAD OF 2026/27

Ten Ealing Trailfinders players have confirmed extensions with the Club ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The Club is delighted to confirm that players from the front row to the back three have re-signed with the Club ahead of the upcoming Champ season.

Props Adam Nicol and George Davis confirmed their re-signings after featuring throughout last season. Davis will continue to build on his centurion cap which he secured against Cornish Pirates in April 2026.

Hooker Scott Buckley has also extended his contract to remain in West London.

Four engine room players put pen to paper to extend their contracts: Sean Lonsdale, Matas Jurevicius, Geordie Irvine, and George Shaw.

Last season’s Vice Club Captain Jordy Reid has also committed to the Club for 2026/27.

Halfback Michael Stronge is one of two backs to re-sign for Ealing Trailfinders, with Michael Dykes also extending his contract.

Ealing Trailfinders who have re-signed with the Club

Adam Nicol
George Davis
Scott Buckley
Sean Lonsdale
Matas Jurevicius
Geordie Irvine
George Shaw
Jordy Reid
Michael Stronge
Michael Dykes

News

TRAILFINDERS SIGN OSCAR STOTT FROM NOTTINGHAM

Ealing Trailfinders are delighted to announce the signing of prop forward Oscar Stott from Nottingham.

After featuring last season in the Champ for the East Midlands side, Stott moves to West London for the 2026/27 season.

A rugby journey that began in Yorkshire saw Stott get picked up Yorkshire Carnegie’s academy before moving further north to study at Durham University. Stott featured in Durham’s BUCS Super Rugby team and spent time with Newcastle Red Bulls (then Newcastle Falcons) academy before travelling to the Midlands last season.

Stott also has two England Students appearances to his name.

On signing for the Club, Stott said:

‘I’m delighted to be joining Ealing Trailfinders and excited for the opportunity ahead.

‘I’m looking forward to being part of the journey this season and being all in for the club!’

Director of Rugby Ben Ward added:

‘Oscar is someone we know well from Nottingham and is a player who we think performed very well in the league last year.

‘Oscar has come out of the university system and did well at Nottingham last season where we saw him make huge progress.

‘He’s already had great coaching and we’re really excited about him as a player. We’re looking forward to having him in our environment and competing alongside the other players.’

News

EALING TRAILFINDERS SIGN WELSH CENTRE TOM FLORENCE

Ealing Trailfinders continue to add depth to their back line by signing Welsh centre Tom Florence.

Florence moves to West London after playing for the Ospreys since 2022. The centre has also represented Wales at U20 age-grade level and scored tries against France and Japan in the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship.

On signing for the Club, Florence said:

‘I’m really excited to join Ealing Trailfinders and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent the club.

‘After speaking to the coaches, it already feels like a very professional environment, and I’m looking forward to learning from the coaches and experienced players around me.

‘I can’t wait to meet the lads, get started in pre-season, and challenge myself while contributing to the team as much as I can.’

Director of Rugby Ben Ward added:

‘Tom is an all-court centre. He can kick, run, and pass well. He’s someone we’re really excited about.

‘With Jordan Holgate moving on from last season, Tom is a really good fit for our back line. I think he’s unlucky to not get more game time at the Ospreys.

‘We’re looking forward to having him join our ranks.’

News

EALING TRAILFINDERS SIGN FOWARDS DUO FROM NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Ealing Trailfinders are delighted to sign lock Emeka Atuanya and back rower Fyn Brown from Northampton Saints.

Joining the green and white outfit for the 2026/27 is the young forward due Atuanya and Brown.

6ft7 lock Atuanya began his rugby career at Northampton School for Boys and Northampton Old Scouts before joining Saints’ Academy system at age 16. The lock has also enjoyed spells in the Champ with loan club Bedford Blues.

6ft4 dynamic back rower Brown has experience playing across the Prem and the Champ with former clubs Wasps, Doncaster Knights, and Bedford Blues. Brown debuted for Saints in November 2024. He has made six Prem appearances in 2025/26.

Both players will add further depth to Ealing Trailfinders’ forward pack.

On signing for the Club, Emeka Atuanya said:

‘I’ve spent my whole career at Northampton so far. It’s nice to have a change of environment and meet some new people.

‘One thing that drew me to Ealing Trailfinders was how good of a team they are. It’s a full-time environment with great facilities.

‘Trailfinders is a very professional environment and when I’ve played against them in the past, they’ve always been difficult games.’

Fyn Brown added:

‘I’m looking forward to getting into a new environment, meet a new group of lads, and play a different brand of rugby.

‘I’m looking forward to bringing all my attention to the Ealing Trailfinders environment and I’m keen to get started. Living in a new part of England is also something that I’m looking forward to.’

Director of Rugby Ben Ward offered his thoughts on the dynamic forwards:

‘Emeka has been unlucky with injuries over the last few years but he has shown promise when he’s been fit. A fresh environment with change will hopefully bring out his potential.

‘We want to get Emeka into a consistent routine. He’s a versatile player who can play both four and five and is a good lineout option.

‘Fyn has played against us in the Champ for Bedford. We felt that when he played for Bedford, he made the side a better team. He has a big work rate which is one of his strongest attributes as well as his collision work. He also adds an extra lineout option for us.

‘I’m excited to have both players in the Ealing Trailfinders environment.’

News, Women's News

HELEN NELSON SIGNS FOR TRAILFINDERS

TRAILFINDERS WOMEN ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE SIGNING OF HELEN NELSON.

The Scotland international arrives in West London from Loughborough Lightning, having established herself as one of the leading fly-halves in the women’s game, bringing a wealth of experience from both domestic and international rugby.

A composed playmaker and proven leader, Nelson has represented Scotland on the biggest stages and played a key role in the continued growth of the national side in recent years. She will join four compatriots at Trailfinders, adding further quality and experience to the squad.

On joining Trailfinders Women, Nelson said:
‘I’m really excited to be joining Trailfinders. The team have gone from strength to strength, and making the final this year was a massive achievement for a relatively
new programme.

‘I love the way the team play. It’s an exciting brand of rugby across the board – they want to move the ball and attack from everywhere, and they’re brave in the way they defend too. It’s a team with world class players and a coaching staff I’m excited to work with.

‘The fans have always been really loud, and clearly passionately support the girls. I’m really excited to experience and be a part of that.’

Head Coach Barney Maddison said:

‘Helen is a fantastic rugby player and will bring a wealth of experience from both international and the PWR here to Trailfinders.

‘We have a strong Scottish connection here at Trailfinders so when Helen became available it was a no brainer. I’m really looking forward to seeing Helen add to this group.’