Congratulations to the following Trailfinders Women’s Pathway Scholars who have been invited to attend the England Rugby Women’s Pathway U18 Regional Camps this weekend:
Scarlet Down – Cardinal Newman Catholic School – Back Row
Hayley Jones – Henley College – Back Row
Rose Platt – Henley College – Prop
Tilly Carpenter – City of Oxford College – Second Row
Jojo Vosakiwaiwai – City of Oxford College – Winger
We wish everyone selected the best of luck.
Trailfinders Women can confirm that Barney Maddison has been named Head Coach ahead of the 2024/25 season.
The former Assistant Coach has built up a wealth of coaching experience in rugby alongside his playing career.
After graduating with a Sports Coaching degree from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2011, Maddison has built up a 13-year coaching CV at teams like Sheffield Hallam, Bracknell RFC, Trailfinders Rugby Academy, and Trailfinders Women.
A true Trailfinder, Maddison is already written into the history books with the men’s team having led them to their second Championship title and will hope to lead Trailfinders Women to their first PWR title in the coming years.
Following his appointment as Head Coach, Maddison said: “I’m really looking forward and excited about the opportunity I’ve been given with Trailfinders Women. I want to improve on what has already been established last year. They are a great bunch to work with, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do this season.”
Managing Director Ben Ward said: “We’re delighted to appoint Barney as Head Coach of Trailfinders Women. He was a brilliant leader as a player, which has shone through in his coaching career, and he has a great rugby brain.
“We are excited to see where he can take Trailfinders Women in the next few years as we look to compete at the top end of the PWR.”
Ealing Trailfinders are thrilled to announce the signing of forward Matas Jurevicius from Harlequins.
The 24-year-old is a versatile forward who can operate in both the second and back rows.
He debuted for the Quins in 2020, having played for England Counties at Under-18 and Under-20 levels.
Jurevicius then went on to make his first start in the Premiership against Saracens in a narrow 19-10 loss at the Stonex in 2022.
Before his experience at the Premiership outfit, Jurevicius was a regular in the London Scottish pack. He was also loaned back to Scottish from Quins and faced Trailfinders last campaign at the RAG.
Standing at 6 ft 4, Jurvevicius will add another option to Ealing Trailfinders set-piece ahead of the 24/25 season.
After signing for Trailfinders, Jurevicius said: “I’m really excited to be joining Ealing this season. Looking forward to being part of an ambitious and motivated group of lads.”
Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “Matas is a brilliant addition to an already strong pack we have here at Trailfinders. I think he can add a lot around the park, on top of being a good option at the set piece. We’re really excited to see what he can bring.”
Ealing Trailfinders can announce that Barney Maddison has retired from professional rugby.
Maddison will forever be a legendary figure in the history of Ealing Trailfinders, having captained the club to its second-ever Championship win.
The hard-nosed Northumbrian represented the club on 78 occasions, leaving everything out on the pitch in every game he played.
After joining in 2017, Maddison had a brief stint away from W13 at London Irish before re-joining the club in 2020.
In the last year, Maddison has helped Trailfinders Women as an Assistant Coach and will continue to be involved in the club.
After confirming his retirement, Maddison said: “I’d like to think that I’ve left the shirt in a better place than when I joined. I’ve made some great memories and lifelong friends at my time here, and I wish the squad all the best in the upcoming Championship campaign. I’ve really enjoyed my time at Ealing Trailfinders and I’m looking forward to my future at Trailfinders Sports Club.”
Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “Barney will always be an Ealing Trailfinders legend. I don’t only respect him for his efforts on the pitch, but I massively respect him as a man as well. He has been such a brilliant leader for the team in its most successful period, and we will never forget everything he has done in Green and White.
“We will celebrate his time at the club as a player properly at some point this season. Barney will remain at Trailfinders Sports Club in a new role to be announced shortly.”
Trailfinders Women can confirm that they have mutually agreed to part company with Director of Women’s Rugby Giselle Mather ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Giselle has been a hugely influential part of Trailfinders Women’s beginnings. She led the bid to enter Premiership Women’s Rugby, and from there, she began building the programme from scratch, which included recruiting a whole rugby squad and staff.
We were privileged to witness some magical moments with Giselle at the helm during the 2023/24 campaign. Amongst these were the club’s first-ever try, scored by Courtney Pursglove away at Harlequins; the club’s first-ever win in the PWR against Leicester Tigers; and our final game of the season against Quins, a 54-27 victory over our London rivals, which displayed the attacking style of rugby that the team is known for.
Giselle Mather said: “I am immensely proud to have built the foundations for future success for Trailfinders Women. Building an elite premiership side from scratch has been an incredible project, and leading it has been an honour.
“Due to a difference in philosophy for our second season, we have reached a mutual decision to part ways. I would like to acknowledge the huge privilege it has been to work with the amazing and talented athletes and committed staff at the Club. I am proud of the momentum we have built during our inaugural season. I wish all those involved every success going forward.”
Managing Director Ben Ward: “I would like to thank Giselle Mather for how hard she has worked for Trailfinders Women and what she has accomplished. Building a new team is incredibly hard, and she led us forward in our first season in the PWR.
“Our style of rugby represents the Trailfinders way and has been enjoyable to watch. She is written into the history books at Ealing Trailfinders and Trailfinders Women. We wish Giselle the best for the future.”
There is one year to go till the best Rugby talent in the world comes to our shores for World Cup 2025.
With games all over the country, Rugby World Cup 2025 will be a magical festival of Rugby. The Red Roses will be going for victory after heartbreak last time out in New Zealand.
The Red Roses squad could feature many of your favourite Trailfinders, as Abby Dow, Liz Crake, Brooke Bradley and Vicky Laflin have all been called up to the squad in the last 12 months, with plenty of others knocking on the door.
Elsewhere, Tyson Beukeboom will look to go to her fourth World Cup with Canada alongside Julia Schell and Emma Taylor; Sara Seye will likely star for Italy in the front row; and a four-strong Scottish contingent of Lisa Thomson, Caity Mattinson, Chloe Rollie, and Liz Musgrove will hope to represent their country in tartan.
We are thrilled that Rugby World Cup 2025 is only a year away, and we can’t wait for what’s in store.
#RWC2025 #ThisEnergyNeverStops
Ealing Trailfinders preseason friendly against Hartpury will now be played at Trailfinders Sports Club, the match was originally due to be played at Hartpury University.
The date and kick-off time will remain the same, Friday 13th September at 19:00.
The match will form part of a doubleheader with Brunel University kicking-off against Hartpury University at 17:00.
Season ticket holders go free.
Adult tickets start from just £10 and can be purchased here.
Old Rivals will meet in a new-look Premiership Rugby Cup for 2024/25.
Ealing Trailfinders will meet London rivals Saracens, Harlequins and London Scottish with Harlequins v Trailfinders at the Stoop in Round 2 being broadcast live on TNT Sports.
With five pools of four, there are some enticing away-days up and down the country with fixtures taking place across the Test windows in November and February, with a minimum of one match per Round broadcast live on TNT Sports.
The leading eight will progress to the quarter-finals, composed of the five group winners plus the three best runners-up.
The knock-out stages will then take place on consecutive weekends in early March with the Premiership Rugby Cup Final scheduled for the weekend of March 15, live on TNT Sports.
Ealing Trailfinders can announce that Welsh prop Brad Thyer has retired from professional rugby.
After a stellar decade-long career in Rugby, Thyer has decided to hang up his boots, having achieved a considerable amount in the game.
The 31-year-old came through the Cardiff Rugby Academy, representing Pontypridd RFC on loan during his developing years. He went on to play for Cardiff 92 times in his ten years of service there.
While in Wales, Thyer set up his blossoming coffee brand, Fat Dragon Coffee, with friend and fellow Welshman Dillon Lewis, meaning he was instantly named Head Barista when he moved to Ealing Trailfinders.
During his time in W13, Thyer struggled with injuries, representing Trailfinders on one occasion, but he added a huge amount to the team’s culture and is loved by everyone around TFSC.
After announcing his retirement, Thyer said: “I have been so grateful for the opportunity to play rugby as my job for the past 10 years. Growing up in the Rhondda Valley, it was always a goal of mine to play the sport I love for as long as I could, so to be able to call it a job has been a privilege.
“It’s impossible to thank Rhiannon, my Dad and the rest of my family enough for their immense sacrifices and support through all the injuries, ups, and downs that come with professional sports. Thank you to every player, coach, and supporter who has played a part in that journey.
“I look forward now to a new challenge, but will remain an avid supporter of Ealing Trailfinders, Cardiff Rugby and Pontypridd RFC.”
Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “Brad has had a brilliant career in professional rugby and we have enjoyed having him during his time here. We wish him all the best in his future career and I hope he’ll keep supplying the lads with Fat Dragon Coffee, they can’t go without it!”
The fixtures for the 2024/25 PWR season have been confirmed as Trailfinders Women aim to improve on their 6th placed finish in 2023/24.
Trailfinders will open their 2024/25 season away from home at London rivals Saracens on the 5th of October before hosting Loughborough Lightning at TFSC live on TNT Sports in Round Two!
As with last year there will be 18 regular season rounds, with a four team play-off to decide the eventual PWR Champions, however, due to the Six Nations and World Cup, this season will be massively condensed compared to 23/24 with the PWR Final on Sunday 16th March.
All the details you need are in the links below, we hope to see you at TFSC for our first game on the 13th of October.