Ealing Trailfinders announce their Women’s Coaching Team

Ealing Trailfinders can reveal their women’s coaching team for next season, as led by Director of Women’s Rugby Giselle Mather

The team provides an eclectic mix of experienced coaches, those who have played at the highest level and personnel who know the club inside-out, to ensure that players in the new Premier15s team are coached to achieve their potential, both as a team and as individuals.

Brett Wilkinson – Scrum Coach

As well as continuing his role with the men’s team, Brett will be in charge of the scrum for the women’s side next season. Brett initially joined the Trailfinders programme back in May 2021, as he was appointed forwards coach at the Trailfinders Rugby Academy at Brunel University. Then, a year later, he made the step up to the first team as Scrum and Transition Coach. As well as having several years as an experienced coach, Brett also has over 180 appearances for Connacht as a player, as well as 5 caps for Ireland ‘A’ and he played in a non-cap game for Ireland against the Barbarians.

Barney Maddison – Forwards, Line-out and Breakdown Coach

Having made over 50 first team appearances over two-spells, with many of them coming as captain this season, Barney is someone that knows Ealing Trailfinders better than most. The second-row, who is a line-out specialist, will remain playing for the men’s side as he looks to add to his 200 appearances for the Trailfinders, London Irish, London Welsh and Rotherham Titans. As well as an impressive CV as a player, Barney is an RFU level 3 qualified coach and has experience as forwards coach at Bracknell over the last couple of years as well as being an assistant coach at Ruislip RFC.

Oli Bishop – U23s and Defence Coach

Having worked with Wasps Women for nine seasons, Oli has huge experience working and developing female athletes. He is an outstanding technical coach who arrives at Ealing Trailfinders with an extensive coaching background. He currently works as the attack and backs coach at the London club, having previously worked as the defence and skills coach. He has coached multiple schools, universities and county teams, and has experience working overseas in Ireland and New Zealand as well as with various men’s and women’s 7s teams.

Kim Oliver – Skills Coach and Athlete Mentor

Former Red Rose Kim Oliver comes with years of experience, both as a coach and as a player. Previously Head Coach at Bristol Bears and Bath Ladies, Kim has spent the last two years creating and overseeing the inaugural girls programme at Henley College, a partner school of Ealing Trailfinders. She will join the Premier15s side as skills coach, as well as being an athlete mentor for the whole women’s programme at the club, focusing on discovering, mentoring and nurturing talented players.

Pat Metcalfe-Jones – Assistant Line-out and Assistant Defence Coach

Currently Head of Rugby at the City of Oxford College and the Head Coach at the Thames Valley Centre of Excellence, Pat has experience as both a player and a coach in the women’s game. She has led the Centre of Excellence during the 2022/23 season, and has previously coached in both the age-grade pathway and university game. During her playing career, she represented Harlequins and Richmond in the Premier15s and will be using her knowledge to assist with defence and set-piece at Ealing Trailfinders Women.

On her new coaching team, Director of Rugby Giselle Mather said: ‘It is hugely exciting to assemble such a vastly experienced coaching team that are all experts in their areas of the game.

“Their commitment to developing our athletes, both as individuals and collectively as a team, is palpable.

“Having full-time coaching staff will allow them to genuinely support the challenges faced by working athletes as they juggle their training hours alongside their careers and this will be a real area of strength of the Ealing Trailfinders programme moving forward. We cannot wait to get started!!”

The coaching team will be joined by an extensive set of support staff, including Strength & Conditioning, Analysis, Nutrition, Psychology and Player Development, which will be announced in the coming weeks.