Trailfinders Women are pleased to have announced the signing of exciting back Sophie Ragg.

The centre, who is also more than comfortable playing on the wing, first started playing rugby after attending a Talent Transfer camp for the England 7s.

After impressing on the camp and then falling in love with the game, she begun to excel in both 7s and 15s which led to her being given the opportunity to study in America alongside her rugby.

She moved to Dartmouth College, where she spent five years studying Biology with a focus on Zoology and Environmental Conservation. During her time in New Hampshire, she was appointed joint captain of the first team and led the team to three National Championship Titles.

Since graduating she has been playing in the Premier Rugby 7s in America for the Pittsburg Steeltoes.

When speaking about moving to West-London, Ragg said: “I am so excited to be returning to England and playing for Trailfinders at what is such an exciting time for women’s rugby in this country.

“Joining this brand new team is such a great opportunity to create something incredible and I can’t wait to get started.”

Director of Women’s Rugby Giselle Mather said: “Sophie is a hugely driven, self-motivated athlete who is going to do great things in the Premier 15s.

“Her boundless energy and ability to see the positive in all situations, as well as her passion for hard work will make a huge impact at Trailfinders, both on and off the field. I can’t wait for her to get started!”

Trailfinders Women are pleased to announce the signing of Rosie Inman ahead of the club’s first season in the Allianz Premier 15s.

The fullback brings a plethora of top flight experience as she moves from Bristol Bears, a side who have made the league playoffs for the second season in a row.

Inman is a product of Biggleswade RFC. She first picked up a rugby ball aged seven and despite being the only girl in her team, laid the foundations for a fruitful career.

The versatile back, who has played both fullback and fly-half, combined her rugby with studies at the University of Bristol as part of her Masters in Biomedical Science.

Prior to this, Inman studied Biology at Durham University and got her first taste of Premier 15s whilst playing for DMP Sharks.

In her final year in the North East, the fullback helped Durham secure the BUCS National League title.

While Inman often lines up in the 15 jersey, she is certainly not out of place throughout the backs, having had  experience on the wing and at fly-half, as well as honing her skills as a goal kicker.

Over recent months, Inman has lifted silverware at Twickenham. She was on loan with Cheltenham Tigers which included their Championship Final triumph over Leicester Tigers.

Ahead of joining the club, Rosie Inman said: “I’m really looking forward to joining Trailfinders.

“It is an amazing opportunity that I am very grateful for. I’m excited to be involved with a team that is only going to grow and I can’t wait to get started!”

Women’s Director of Rugby Giselle Mather said: “I am really excited to begin working with Rosie. She is fully engaged in the opportunity and committed to working really hard to achieve success and I know she is going to make huge gains this season.”

Inman joins Canadian International Tyson Beukeboom and exciting centre/ wing Jess Cooksey in joining the club this week.

Trailfinders Women are thrilled to announce the signing of centre/ wing Jess Cooksey ahead of our first season in the Premier 15s.

Despite being only 22, Jess has vast rugby experience, having represented her country at age grade level, played for several Premier 15s sides and has also spent time playing the game in North America.

After breaking through at Gloucester-Hartpury while studying at Hartpury College, Jess was then called up to represent the England U18s side and Great Britain 7s. She then made the move up to Premier 15s rivals Darlington Mowden Park while studying at Durham University.

After two years with the Sharks, including playing for England U20s, she then joined Wasps in 2021, where she worked with Trailfinders Director of Women’s Rugby Giselle Mather. After a year at the West-London side, she went travelling to Canada last year to experience rugby in a new country but is now excited to be returning to England.

On her signing for the club, Jess said: “I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to be involved with Trailfinders this season.

“After several years of studying alongside playing, I’m excited to finally get the chance to shift my focus solely onto rugby.

“With the promising and dynamic set up at the club, I’m looking forward to what the next season brings.”

When talking about Jess, Giselle said: “Jess is a very talented and extremely hard working person.

“I am hugely excited to see what she will achieve when she is able to commit her time to exploring her full potential as an athlete and a rugby player.

“There are very exciting times ahead for her! Watch this space!”

Trailfinders Women are delighted to announce the signing of flanker Fiona Cooper ahead of our first season in the Premier 15s.

Fiona joins the club with a wealth of experience across a variety of different rugby cultures for a player who is just 26 years of age, including playing in Scotland, England, New Zealand and America.

Despite now being at the top of her game, Fiona didn’t take up rugby until she was 16 years old, when she attended a taster session for girls at her local club, Howe of Fife, back in Scotland.

She took to it like a duck to water, and within two years was at a Scotland U18s training camp. From there she advanced to St Andrews, playing for both the university and Howe of Fife Seniors and earned a call up to the Scotland U20s squad.

While she was completing her International Relations undergrad, she had the opportunity to go on a year abroad and study at the University of Auckland, one that she grabbed with both hands!

While she was over in Auckland she played at Ponsonby Rugby Club, who had six Black Ferns in their pack at the time as she went on a self confessed “steep learning curve” about what she needed to do to play in the forwards, but it was one that she said “helped massively.”

When she returned back home, she completed her studies and gained a place on the Scottish pathways programme during her final year at St Andrews.

After graduating, she then moved to Emory University in Atlanta for a master’s degree and while she was there joined up with the Atlanta Harlequins for two years.

As lockdown hit she returned to Scotland, and begun training with Corstorphine Cougars in the Tennent’s Premiership as restrictions begun to be lifted.

After proving herself back in Scotland, at the start of this season she decided to test herself in the Premier 15s and moved down to Wasps. During her time for the London club she made 18 appearances, with only one coming from the bench, and her superb form earned her a call-up to the Scotland training squad ahead of this year’s Women’s TikTok Six Nations.

Away from the rugby pitch, Fiona is currently a Knowledge Manager at Laureus Sport for Good, an international charity using sport to combat violence, discrimination and disadvantage around the world.

On signing for Trailfinders, Fiona said: I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Trailfinders next season! Joining a new team in the Premier 15s provides exciting opportunities to be a foundational part of the club’s future in the women’s game and their commitment and investment means it’s sure to be a dynamic environment.

“I’m particularly excited to be joining some coaches from Wasps who have supported me to achieve really wonderful things despite a challenging year and new coaches who I’m sure will push me on to the next level of my rugby.

“Trailfinders also does some really wonderful work in the community which is very close to my heart and a perfect place to make my new home.”

Director of Women’s Rugby Giselle Mather said: “Fiona has a lot of varied rugby experiences under her belt and bringing that knowledge of working in different rugby environments across the world will be invaluable as we form our new squad into a competitive team.

“She is a fiercely competitive player who trains hard and who is keen now to begin to make an impact on the international stage and I feel all at Trailfinders are ready to help her achieve that.”

Trailfinders Women are delighted to announce the signing of Lauren Brooks from Harlequins ahead of next season.

The flanker first joined Quins in 2017, ahead of their first season in the Premier 15s, and has been there for the last six years, amassing over 40 appearances in the four quarters.

In 2021, she started at blindside flanker in the Premier 15s final at Kingsholm, as Harlequins won the title for the first time in their history, defeating then two time champions Saracens by 25-17.

Away from the rugby pitch, Lauren is an Army reservist, serving with the Royal Engineers and has spent one year representing the Army 7s side, and another for the Army 15s team. Earlier this year Lauren was part of the team that were crowned Inter-service Champions, after victories against the RAF at Kingsholm and against the Navy at Twickenham.

On joining Trailfinders Women, Lauren said: “With the club joining the Premier 15s next season, moving to Trailfinders now is an exciting challenge as we get to set a platform for how we’re going to play, both this year and for the seasons ahead.

“For me now, I really think the club is the right place for me to further develop my skills, both on and off the pitch, and I’m looking forward to meeting the girls and all the coaching staff.

“The facilities and commitment the club has is exceptional, and is paving the way for the women’s game and I can’t wait to get going.”

Director of Rugby Giselle Mather said: “Lauren is a hard-working, physical forward who thrives in the contact areas of the sport.

“She loves a challenge and is keen to progress her game both sides of the ball, and we can’t wait for her to get started!”

Lauren is our third signing this week, along with Japanese International Kie Tamai and Red Rose Rowena Burnfield.