Ealing Trailfinders Women reveal pathway team

As part of the club’s ongoing commitment to producing Trailfinders through our pathways, at Brunel University, Henley College and Cardinal Newman, Ealing Trailfinders Women are delighted to announce the coaches who will look to create and nurture future stars who will go on to play for the club in the Premier15s.

Steve Wagstaff – Head Coach at Brunel University

Steve has over 20 years of coaching experience and has been part of the Trailfinders Rugby Academy at Brunel University for almost three years now. During that time, the team have not lost a competitive game and this year they secured promotion to BUCS Women’s Premier South. He has seen the programme at Brunel grow from six players to over 40 athletes and has experience, in both men’s and women’s coaching at clubs and schools.

Emma Cooper – Assistant Coach at Brunel University

Emma has vast experience in women’s rugby, both as a player and a as coach. Over her ten year playing career she represented Wasps, Saracens and England Students, before moving into coaching. She has worked within County, DPP, Independent schools and College Head of Rugby positions and has qualifications in Sport Science, NLP & Personal Training.

Aaron Lowe – Head Coach at Henley College

Aaron has been at Henley College for the last two seasons, working closely with Kim Oliver to help produce five England U18s internationals. Now that Kim has stepped up to become Skills Coach and Athlete Mentor for the Premier 15s side, Aaron will be running the women’s programme. He has a vast rugby background, playing across the national leagues and currently still with Jamaica 7s. He has four and a half years worth of experience coaching with the RFU before he decided to make the move to Henley.

Phil Ward – Head Coach at Cardinal Newman

Phil has overseen the start of the Girls Rugby Academy at Newman College, which has now been running for two years. In this short time they have already achieved an England Colleges 15s win and this year were crowned U18s Girl’s Cup Open Champions at the Rosslyn Park National 7s. He is a qualified level 3 coach and previously started the girls section at Hove Rugby Club, led Sussex U15 and U18 Girls teams and currently leads on the ERDPP Programme in Sussex.

When speaking about her pathway coaches, Director of Women’s Rugby Giselle Mather said: “To have coaches of this calibre working in our pathway is a genuine statement of intent as to how important the development of talented young athletes is to Ealing Trailfinders.

“Our ambition as a club is sign top players, but also recruit from within.

“The expertise and previous experience of all the staff working with young athletes in education will see them assist every individual with their development both as players and as people.”

All of the Ealing Trailfinders Women pathways, at Brunel University, Henley College and Cardinal Newman, are not only supported by top rugby coaches but also with complete Strength & Conditioning and nutrition programmes to maximise their rugby potential and to compliment their studies.

This announcement comes after Wednesday’s unveiling of our Premier 15s coaching staff and Strength & Conditioning team.