Ealing Trailfinders Times - Winter 24

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WINTER ISSUE

EALING TRAILFINDERS

TIMES GLOBETROTTIING TRAILFINDERS WXV ROUND-UP pg.8

JOSH TAYLOR

RISING STAR ACADEMY FRESHER TO PRO IN TWO YEARS pg.14

TRAILFINDERS CHUMS KIE TAMAI & SOFIA ROLFI pg.12

BRAD THE BARISTA COFFEE ENTREPENEUR

TAMING THE TIGERS

pg.21

PREMIERSHIP RUGBY CUP SEMI-FINAL pg.5 QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

EALING TRAILFINDERS TIMES

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BEN WARD’S

WELCOME Welcome to the latest edition of Ealing Trailfinders Times.

There has been so much to get excited about around the club lately, with the Women’s first season in the Allianz PWR and the Men’s fantastic start to the Championship campaign.

CONTENTS 3 5

BEN WARD’S WELCOME

TAMING THE TIGERS

6 GLOBETROTTING TRAILFINDERS 9 WOMEN’S FIXTURES 11 MEN’S FIXTURES

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KIE TAMAI & SOFIA ROLFI

RISING STAR JOSH TAYLOR 16 IN THE COMMUNITY

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BRAD THE BARISTA 20 ALMUNI SUCCESS - WILL HARRIES 27 MEET THE TRAILFINDER - JACOB MITCHELL

We’ve been so honoured to have the support of such a loyal fan base this season, with attendance numbers being strong since the very beginning of this season.

The men’s side headed into the Christmas break at the top of the league, having had some brilliant results. The new-look Premiership Rugby Cup presented some exciting new tests, hosting Northampton Saints and then travelling to Bristol Bears, allowing us to challenge ourselves against some of the very best teams in the sport.

We have qualified for the semifinals of that competition and will host Leicester Tigers on the 18th of February. It’s a hugely exciting occasion for us, facing one of the giants of English rugby.

completely new group gel together so quickly, and they have surprised many with how well they have performed this early in their life cycle.

This is in no small part due to the success of all the team-building work that the squad has done, which has already built relationships that will no doubt last for years to come.

Leicester Tigers have twenty-one major titles, including winning the Premiership eleven times, most recently in 2022, and being champions of Europe twice.

We have been thrilled to see so many of you coming down to support our Women’s team, and we love that you are all as committed to growing the Women’s game as we are.

Several of their squad were at the recent World Cup in France, including Jasper Wiese and Handre Pollard, who won the tournament with South Africa, and England stars like Ollie Chessum and George Martin.

Giselle’s side achieved their first victory as they beat Leicester Tigers Women 36-7, and we hope we can emulate Trailfinders Women’s success against the Men on the 18th.

In a true David Vs Goliath contest, we need to turn the stadium the green and white of Ealing Trailfinders.

Thank you all for your continued support as we attempt to Tame The Tigers.

Trailfinders Women have had an equally exciting start to their firstever season.

Director of Rugby Giselle Mather has done a brilliant job in helping a

Ben Ward Managing Director 3

EALING TRAILFINDERS TIMES

LEICESTER TIGERS

A Fierce Opponent LEICESTER TIGERS ARE ARGUABLY THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB IN ENGLISH RUGBY HISTORY. FOUNDED IN 1880 AFTER A MERGER BETWEEN THREE LOCAL TEAMS IN LEICESTER, THEY HAVE PLAYED AT THEIR HOME OF WELFORD ROAD SINCE 1892.

In their history, Leicester have won 21 major titles, winning this cup in its various formats eight times: three times with Welsh team involvement and five times with solely English sides. To add to their domestic dominance, 11 of those titles were as Premiership Rugby champions, five times more than any other English club. They are also one of three sides to have never been relegated from the top flight since its inception.

attention heading into our semi-final matchup, and that is our very own Billy Twelvetrees. Rising through the academy ranks, Twelvetrees made his professional debut for Leicester in remarkable fashion in 2009. Thrust into the starting lineup with only 10 minutes notice, he scored a try and nine points from the boot against Ospreys, taking home the man of the match award.

That leaves the most prestigious: winning back-to-back European Championships in 2001 and 2002 as they beat Stade Francais and Munster, respectively. They have appeared in five European Championship finals in total, losing three.

Twelvetrees would make 46 appearances for Leicester, scoring 301 points in a somewhat injury-blighted period.

Nevertheless, he established himself at the top tier of English rugby, showing his dynamic ability at both centre and fly-half while learning from some of the best players in the world.

Leicester have been able to boast an abundance of worldclass players throughout its existence. Five players from the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning England side were from the Leicester ranks, including captain Martin Johnson and the ‘Mad Dog’ Lewis Moody. Ex-Tigers centre Sir Clive Woodward was also the coach to lead them to victory.

Twelvetrees would also be part of a record-breaking period for the club, where they went to nine successive Premiership finals from 2005-2014, showing why they were one of the best in the ‘modern’ era. They won five out of those nine finals in that period, with Twelvetrees playing some part in three of these campaigns, one successful and two not.

One ex-Tiger in particular will be at the forefront of media

Fondly nicknamed ‘36’ by many due to his captain Geordan

TAMING TH 4

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Murphy’s Irish accent making Twelvetrees sound like ‘twelve threes,’ he left the club for Gloucester midway through the 2011-12 campaign to boost his England chances. Having been on the England periphery for a while, a move was necessary to gain more playing time.

Leicester entered into a gloomy period of their club’s history from 2014 until 2021 as Saracens became the dominant force in English rugby. They only won a singular major trophy in that period, the Anglo-Welsh Cup against Exeter Chiefs in 2017.

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of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Now in his place is the exAustralia forwards coach Dan McKellar, who we will be welcoming to TFSC this February.

The Tigers’ path to the Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final was not overly convincing. They won four out of five games in arguably one of the weaker groups in the competition, playing against Newcastle Falcons, Sale Sharks, Bedford Blues, Caldy and Ampthill in Pool B. Sweeping aside the Falcons, Caldy and Ampthill with ease, games versus the Sharks and Blues proved far more complex.

Tigers endured some tumultuous seasons in this stretch, two of which saw them near the foot of the table in danger of relegation. Tigers legend turned head coach Geordan Murphy was succeeded by ex-England captain Steve Borthwick in 2020, who finally brought the glory days back to Welford Road.

A close encounter with Sale Sharks left the Tigers with only a four-point lead in the dying minutes of the game, with a resilient Tigers defence being the difference between the Sharks taking all the points, finishing 18-14.

every week of the season in 2021/22.

They then won their first title in nine years in one of the most dramatic finishes in Premiership final history, beating Saracens with the last kick of the game via a Freddie Burns 80th-minute drop goal.

at Goldington Road. Having already qualified for the semi-finals of the cup, the main significance of the loss would be their cup tie being an away draw.

THIS WILL BE A However, their game against Bedford MAGNIFICENT OCCASION Blues did not pan out in the same manner. Starting a very inexperienced Borthwick’s side became the first-ever FOR THE BEST RUGBY CLUB side, with eight players making their club to top the Premiership table through debut, the Tigers fell to a 47-28 loss IN WEST LONDON

Not only was this a historic season in bringing the glory days back to Welford Road, but they also launched their very first women’s team. Initially entered into the Championship North, they now feature in the PWR alongside our women’s team as both embark on their inaugural elite campaigns.

Borthwick departed to become England head coach ahead

And so it fell to Ealing Trailfinders to host one of English rugby’s powerhouses at TFSC after our unbeaten cup campaign in a tough Pool D. This will be a magnificent occasion for the best rugby club in West London, welcoming down one of the biggest fanbases in the country for our first ever appearance in the semi-finals of the cup. With the TNT cameras rolling and the ground packed to the rafters, it will be quite the spectacle.

HE TIGERS 5

EALING TRAILFINDERS TIMES

GLOBETROTTING TRAILFINDERS WXV, the new three-division international women’s rugby tournament, started this summer, with WXV 1 taking place in New Zealand, WXV 2 in South Africa and WXV 3 in Dubai. Ten Trailfinders represented nine different nations, here’s how they did:

SARA SEYE Italy had a brilliant WXV 2, winning all of their games and only missing out on the title due to Scotland having a better points difference.

Sara Seye started in the Azzuri’s dominant 28-15 victory over Japan in the tournament opener. The front row has impressed so far this season with her physicality in contact, and will likely be a feature of the Italian team for years to come.

CARYS COX One of the newest Trailfinders on the block, Carys Cox, played in two of the principality’s three fixtures.

Pre-tournament favourites for, and eventual winners of, the wooden spoon, Wales acquitted themselves well, narrowly losing a nail-biter to Australia in the final round.

Earning only her second and third caps for her nation in WXV, Cox will look to learn from all the experience she has gained in New Zealand.

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ELISA RIFFONNEAU France were back to their chaotic best in WXV 1, upsetting the oddsmakers in the first round with a victory over the Black Ferns, only to lose to Australia and Canada in rounds two and three, despite being one of the pre-tournament favourites.

With such expectations, it emphasises how impressive it is that Elisa Riffonneau started two of three in the front row at such a young age.

Riffonneau even scored in Les Bleu’s loss to Australia, which was only her second start.

TYSON BEUKEBOOM AND JULIA SCHELL Our two Canadians had a thrilling WXV campaign in New Zealand, beating Wales and France but losing to Abby Dow’s England.

Both critical contributors to the side, Schell brought the attacking flair to contrast nicely with Beukeboom’s defensive rigidity.

The pair from the frozen north helped their nation to second place in the tournament, finishing higher than the bookies would have had you believe pre-kickoff.

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WXV ROUND-UP LIZ MUSGROVE

KATE ZACKARY The USA had a tough tournament in an incredibly competitive WXV 2, beating Samoa but coming out on the wrong side of a tense affair against Scotland and being defeated by Italy in the final round. However, Zackary had an excellent tournament individually, crossing the whitewash in her country’s only victory.

Scotland had a strong WXV 2 campaign, making it three wins from three and lifting the title in South Africa.

They played the hosts in their opening match as Liz Musgrove featured from the bench to help them secure a convincing win over the South Africans.

Scotland overcame Kate Zackary’s U.S.A before beating Japan to secure their place at the top of the WXV 2 standings.

LINDELWA GWALA South Africa improved on their winless 2021 World Cup with a victory over Samoa in WXV 2.

Trailfinder Lindelwa Gwala started at hooker in that 33-7 victory and her nation’s 17-31 loss to eventual WXV 2 champions Scotland.

CRISTINA BLANCO The Captain of Spain led her team brilliantly through their maiden WXV 3 voyage, featuring impressive victories over Kenya and Fiji, only missing out on the title due to a two-point loss to Ireland in the deciding game of the tournament.

Spain only scored eight tries in the tournament, compared to podium partners Ireland and Fiji’s 29 and 32, instead relying on their resolute defence to win the side games, which Blanco was a massive part of.

ABBY DOW Trailfinders only Red Rose for this tournament did not trouble the scorers as much as many would have thought in WXV 1, but she still managed to produce repeated barnstorming performances. The winger, nominated for World Player of the Year, is famed for her tryscoring prowess, but her WXV campaign was characterised by something different. She left the glitz and glamour to her teammates and instead produced a brilliant defensive performance across England’s three games.

England ultimately won the tournament with relative ease, and Dow played a pivotal role in their success on their way to beating Australia, Canada and The Black Ferns.

CAN YOU CATCH THEM ALL?

Signature posters are available for the Mens and Womens teams at the shop and there will be an opportunity to get them signed after every home game.

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TRAILFINDERS CHUMS & KIE TAMAI

SOFIA ROLFI

TALK TO US ABOUT THE TRANISITON TO TRAILFINDERS WOMEN

Tell us about yourself and how you became a Rugby Player.

Kie - I started playing rugby when I was 18. Before that I played basketball for 10 years. When rugby became an Olympic sport, I took part in try-outs organised by JRFU. I found it interesting because I could use my experience from playing basketball, such as stepping and handling. At university I played for the men’s rugby team. I quit my teaching job, worked for a sponsor company and concentrated on rugby to become a member of the national team in 2019.

Sofia - My father played rugby when he was younger, so when I was a kid I had the chance to see this sport a lot and the more I grew up, the more it intrigued me. I had the possibility to try rugby when I was 15 at Rugby Calvisano and I fell in love with it.

The club didn’t have a female youth team so I trained with the senior team and played on loan to different teams every Sunday.

Driven by my desire to improve my english and my rugby skills, I moved to England to study and play at Worthing College. I 12

started a new journey with Wasps Ladies in 2019/20, reaching my Premiership debut on November 30 against Saracens, a moment that I will never forget!

Unfortunately covid brought me back to Italy in March 2020. Due to the situation I decided to start playing in Italy, for Rugby Colorno. In September 2020 I had the first call from the senior Italian national team, leading me then to participate in the Six Nations 2021, Rugby World Cup 2021 played in 2022 in New Zealand and Six Nations 2023.

What made you take the decision to come here to play?

Kie - When I participated in the World Cup in New Zealand last year, I felt there was a big gap between the best four nations and Japan. I heard that England, who are ranked number one in the world, are not only very strong but also have an environment where women rugby players see rugby as a part of their lives and do not have to give up their careers or their lives as women. For example, they can play rugby as a doctor and return to play after having

a child. I also learnt that there has been fan bases of 50,000 at Red Roses games, then I wanted to actually play there and learn more about the environment and system surrounding female players.

I decided to join Trailfinders Women because I was interested in being involved in building the team’s culture. Ealing is an area where many Japanese people live, and a friend who lived here told me, “Ealing Trailfinders has a lot of fans in the area. You often see them on buses and in supermarkets wearing Trailfinders clothes.”

Sofia - When Giselle spoke to me about this new team, she gave me the possibility of living my dream. All the details about the programme, staff, players, facilities were the perfect platform for my personal growth as a person and as a player.

What surprised you about British Culture?

Kie - Japan has a culture of respect for older people. I think that is a wonderful culture, but at the same time it is an environment where it is difficult for younger

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players to speak up. What surprised me about the English culture is that all players, regardless of age or experience, have an opinion and speak it in front of everyone.

I think it’s great that the players speak up, but I also think it’s great that the players around them are open to all sorts of ideas.

But honestly what simply amazes me is how cold and dark it is!

Sofia - The way that sport is seen in England is completely different to Italy.

Here you have more work opportunities, from being the physio or the sport manger to being the athlete. From a young age, children can practice sport in schools and they could receive sport scholarships in college and university. This brings more people to play sport or dedicate their life to it. In Italy all this is still far behind, especially for a sport like rugby.

How did you find playing in the Premiership so far?

Kie - The speed, weight, strength, smarts - it all feels like playing the World Cup every week to me. The team, matches and the atmosphere in the league is very professional.

Sofia - Playing for a club which compete in the Premiership is another level, from the training schedule to the treatments each athlete has, to the work that all staff put in is amazing.

It’s also really good to have competitive matches, I think always facing strong players brings out the best from everyone so there is always great rugby on!

How did you two get so close so fast?

Kie - From the beginning of pre-season, we did passing sessions together. I think we became particularly close during the period of time we lived together while the national players were at WXV. We talked from morning till night, shopped, and cooked together. It was my birthday at that time and she celebrated with gifts and brunch.

I felt lonely not being able to see my family and friends, but Sofia comforted me. Perhaps because English is not our first language, it was easier to converse with each other.

Sofia - Kie and I became friends really quickly from the beginning, we get along so well and get to know each other more and more every day. We lived together for 4-5 weeks, and during this time we got really close. We spent a lot of time together, chatting all day and doing different things like brunch, study time, shopping etc.

Do you like living with your teammates?

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Kie - I like that we can easily talk about what happened at practice and games. I enjoy talking about the rugby environment in each country and our experiences. I have enjoyed getting to know different cultures.

I’m sorry that you’re not allowed to wear shoes in the house because of me... I’m going to host a dumpling party to thank you for accepting that.

Sofia - I love living with my teammates , you make friends for life and they became part of your family.

It’s always good to have someone to talk to, and someone to learn from, to get to know new cultures and new things.

What do you miss most about home?

Kie - Japanese food and my dog, but I am saved by the fact that there are many good Japanese restaurants in Ealing and that I can see many dogs in the parks. Kate Zackary’s dog is exactly the same breed as mine, and I often go to see him, but I’ve kept it a secret from Kate that I once called him by my own dog’s name accidentally.

Sofia - I miss my family, my dog and friends a lot. I also miss Italian food , because as everyone knows it’s the best in the world!

What is your favourite thing about London and why?

Kie - I like double-decker buses. We don’t have double-decker buses in Japan and all the scenery is different from Japan. I like the buildings because they are traditional and beautiful. I often just sit on the bus and look at the city.

Sofia - I really like being able to find different cultures in one city. I enjoyed the Christmas period when the whole city was decorated so well.

What are your goals for the season?

Kie - I have recently changed my position, so I want to learn from the ground up and perform on the field in the English way and use my strengths to contribute to the team.

Besides that, I also want to be a bridge between the Japanese people in Ealing and Trailfinders Women.

Sofia - I want to learn as much as I can from the staff and my teammates, improve a lot as a player but also as a person.

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EALING TRAILFINDERS TIMES

RISING STAR

JOSH TAYLOR RISING STAR JOSH TAYLOR IS ARGUABLY THE BREAKOUT TRAILFINDERS TALENT OF THE 2023/24 CAMPAIGN. GRADUATING FROM THE TRAILFINDERS RUGBY ACADEMY AT BRUNEL, THE BACK-ROW SCORED TWO TRIES IN HIS FIRST START AND HAS GONE ON TO PLAY REGULARLY FOR THE FIRST TEAM. WE SPOKE TO THE SCOTLAND UNDER 20 INTERNATIONAL ABOUT HIS TRAILFINDERS JOURNEY. What made you choose Brunel and Trailfinders Rugby Academy?

I chose the programme because it was a way to train in a full-time environment and get a degree simultaneously.

What degree are you doing at Brunel?

I am pursuing a degree in sports science. I am passionate about sports, and it seemed the perfect choice.

How has the academy and your time at Brunel helped you grow as a rugby player?

The facilities at Ealing Trailfinders are unbelievable! The pitches and gyms are great resources and have helped me physically develop.

What are the biggest differences between the academy and first team?

The biggest difference is the speed of the game and the bigger collisions, which has been a very exciting challenge to adapt to.

How have you improved as a rugby player since being involved with the first team?

Being in a full-time environment has massively helped me; being coached by some excellent coaches and applying their feedback in training and games has allowed me to become a better rugby player.

Is there anyone specifically that has helped your development the most?

Corniel (Ealing Trailfinders Forward’s Coach) has helped me massively since coming in, with technical skills and belief when playing for Trailfinders. Ollie

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Newman and Doug (David Douglas Bridge) have also helped me transition to the first team, helping me with extras pre and post-sessions.

What does a normal day look like for you as a studentathlete?

On a training day, I wake up and head straight into the club. I live in a house with other players next to Trailfinders Sports Club, so it’s a short walk. On a typical day, we have training, team meetings and sessions in the gym. I eat lunch with the other players at the club. After training, I head home to rest up and catch up on some university work. I try to use my days off to complete any assignments I have due.

What advice would you give to younger players coming through the academy at the moment?

My advice to younger players would be to focus on the field and in the gym so that when an opportunity comes, you can take it.

How proud were you making your first team debut, what was that moment like?

I was massively proud when I made my debut for Ealing Trailfinders; coming off the bench early in the game was

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very nerve-racking but exciting at the same time. Luckily, I got a positive early involvement and just built into the game from there. It was great to help the team secure the win against Doncaster Knights.

What is it like being around and learning from the more experienced members of the squad?

Learning from all the guys at the club has been my favourite part about stepping up to the first team. There are so many talented players at Trailfinders, so listening to and learning from them has really helped my development as a rugby player.

What are your personal goals for the rest of this season and goals for the rest of your rugby career?

My goals for the rest of this season are to be involved in the upcoming games and build into a new year where we have some tough challenges coming up. I want to play at the highest level I can and help Ealing Trailfinders win.

Hopefully, we can top the Championship and win the Premiership Cup. If you would like more infomration or are interested in joining Ealing Trailfinders Academy email: academy@etprm.com

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EALING TRAILFINDERS TIMES

IN THE COMMUNITY

Chistmas Carol Singing

Visit to the Japanese School Ealing Trailfinders took over the Japanese School, in Acton, to Introduce over 500 students to Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club.

Japanese international, Kei Tamai inspiring them with her journey from playing Basketball in school - to becoming a professional rugby player and moving to England.

At the beginning of December Ealing Trailfinders and Trailfinders Women went down to Dickens Yard to sing Christmas Carols. It was great to see the Ealing community come out and join us to sing along with our players.

The Arnold Hill School cup for girls Through the Autumn term, we’ve been working with over 200 girls, across five Schools in Ealing, to grow girls Rugby.

With the help of professional players, Kate Zachary, Kira Leat and Julia Schell and Tyson Buekeboom, we’ve helped them to love rugby while providing them with positive role models.

Gifford Primary School Careers Day We took Kira Leat, Professional Women’s Player for Trailfinders Women, to talk about the exciting variety of opportunities there are working for a sports club. This included being a player, coach, nutritionist, analyst, media and marketing, management and other avenues for them to follow.

Light up the Lane We set up the AKtivator (Sponsored by AK Law), as the community took over pitshanger lane to spread some festive joy in our local community.

A taste of Hillingdon Working with the Barnhill Community High and South Hillingdon Sports Network, we delivered rugby taster sessions to over 1500 students, across 14 schools in Hillingdon.

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Football Club win Middlesex FA award The Ealing Trailfinders Football Club has seen a meteoric rise since its inception three years ago and this October we were recognised by the Middlesex FA as Football Club of the Month. We started with one team in 2020, playing social football, and we now have a thriving boys and girls section with 12 affiliated teams including four girls teams. The U8s also played their first friendly game this December with the intention of being affiliated next year.

We want to continue growing and have secured the use of Brentham FC’s grass pitches to allow us to expand our offering to local young people who want to stay active and have fun whilst playing football.

Head of football, Gabriel Colquhoun, said: “It’s such an achievement for us. It feels like we only started yesterday and now we are here! The time has really flown by, but the stage we are at now is a real credit to the club, the parents, the kids and all our coaches. It’s the community side of this club that really stands out and it would mean so much to not only us but the whole community!”

If you are interested in playing football for Ealing Trailfinders please email us on football@etprm.com or visit our website www.ealingtrailfinders.org.uk

Other clubs at Ealing Trailfinders

Southwark Tiger tag with Ealing Trailfinders This September, we tagged with Southwark Tigers Rugby Club and the Big Yellow Self Storage company in working with 12 schools across the London borough of Southwark.

We’ve delivered 12 weeks of regular sessions in these schools and organised three festival days. The first was touch and the next two have progressed to grab-hold, encouraging teams to think about line-speed in defence and running onto the ball at pace in attack.

It’s been great to see how each of the schools have progressed, not just through the weeks, but even on the day it self. We’ve not just been teaching students about the skills involved in playing rugby, but about teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship.

The project, funded by the Big Yellow Self Storage Company, will continue after the Christmas break with 3 more tournaments, that will introduce rucking and eventually lead to a game of full contact rugby.

Ealing Trailfinders is more than just a professional rugby club - we offer lots of different sport for the community: Amateur Rugby: Mens, Women’s, U5-U18, mixed ability and social touch rugby.

Scan QR code or visit: www.ealingrugby.co.uk/category/ club1871/ for more information Netball U6 - U11: Every Sunday, 10 - 11am U12 - U16: Every Wednesday, 7 - 8.30pm Cricket Mens and U5 - U18 boys and girls cricket.

Scan QR code or visit: www.ealingtcc.com for more information

SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION!

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT US OR MAKE A DONATION?

Visit our website for the latest project updates, sport camp bookings, upcoming activity and fundraising opportunities.

SCAN THE CODE OR VISIT www.ealingtrailfinders.org.uk

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FO

U N DAT I O N

AWARD WINNING Foundation And Community team

The Ealing Trailfinders Foundation and Community Team proudly accepted the Community Support Award at the West London Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2023 in November!

The Ealing Trailfinders Foundation was established in September 2021 as we started to emerge from the COVID restrictions. We wanted the Foundation to be a source of positive community engagement, promoting physical and mental wellbeing by making lives better through sport.

We have delivered dozens of projects since our inception which were all aimed at getting children and young adults taking part in regular physical activity.

active, and providing free holiday camps for those that need it most.

Pratyesh added “We’ve built some great relationships within the community and been supported by some fantastic local businesses to make all of this happen. But we want to ensure we leave a lasting legacy and for that we need your continued support”

Head of Community, Pratyesh Desai, said “It’s great to be recognised for all the fantastic work we do in the community! Sport is an integral part of a healthy and thriving community. Coming out of the pandemic in 2020 we wanted to make sure we removed as many barriers as possible for people to participate in sport and stay physically and mentally healthy - no matter their background” Over the past three years we’ve been working to make lives better through sport. This has involved working with schools and local community groups, setting up affordable clubs for children in the local area to access sport, supporting vulnerable adults and young people to stay

THE FOUNDATION TEAM HAVE:

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Engaged over 28000 young people through our programmes Provided over 800 hours of free coaching across 71 different schools Provided 2786 free places on our holiday camps with hot meals for those on free school meals Mentored 87 at risk teenagers through our sport programmes.

Supported 54 vulnerable adults and young people through our Mixed Ability Rugby programme.

If you would like to find out more about the foundation and community team or make a donation, please visit our website www.ealingtrailfinders.org.uk or email community@etprm.com

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BRAD

THE BARISTA BRAD THYER HAS HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT UPHEAVAL IN HIS LIFE RECENTLY, MOVING TO W13 OVER THE SUMMER AFTER RACKING UP ALMOST 100 APPEARANCES OVER EIGHT YEARS AT CARDIFF BLUES. HOWEVER, THE WELSHMAN IS REVELLING IN HIS NEW SURROUNDINGS AND HAS QUICKLY TAKEN ON THE ‘HEAD BARISTA’ ROLE AT TFSC. His adventures in the caffeinated arts started in late 2017, when propping pals Brad Thyer and fellow Welsh international Dillon Lewis were looking to start a business venture to fill their time off the field. Brad had suffered a serious brain injury at the start of that year, specifically a vertebral artery dissection, which had given him time to consider life after rugby.

“The main motivation behind it was to establish something outside of rugby, as a business and income in the future, so it kind of grew from there,” explained Thyer.

During his lengthy lay-off, Thyer began spending a lot of time in coffee chains with Lewis, before moving on to the independent coffee shop scene.

“We instantly realised how the coffee we drank at home was of poor quality, compared to what we drink in these new, speciality, coffee shops. Roll on a few months, and Fat Dragon Coffee was born.”

As both were injured at the time, Thyer explains how they were able to plan the business venture properly so it would be self-sufficient and fit around their rugby careers for the foreseeable fututre.

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“At the start it was purely online, but since then we’ve had time to develop into shops, have a mobile coffee van, so you could say that we’ve grown organically,” he adds.

Since 2017, a lot has changed at Fat Dragon Coffee. Alongside Brad’s move to Ealing, Dillon Lewis also made the move down the M4 to Twickenham Stoop and Harlequins.

While Brad emphasises that it was purely a rugby decision, he and Lewis have made the most of the varied and thriving coffee scene in London.

“We’ve done a bit of exploring: we’ve been over to Soho last week and did around 10-12 coffee shops, tasting and reviewing different types of beans while having a chat with the owners to see how we could help them as businesses. About halfway through we realised that we needed a pint of water before carrying on.

There were a few jitters on the way home, let’s put it that way!”

After arriving at TFSC, Thyer quickly set about improving the coffee scene on-site. “I quickly realised that it was either instant coffee or nothing at all. So we got a group together with Kevin O’Byrne, who’s also a bit of a coffee fanatic, and realised that we could organise something for the boys.”

After sourcing a refurbished machine from a West London company, they’ve created a completely mobile and self-sufficient coffee cart, which everyone in the squad has bought into.

Since then, they’ve set up a coffee club that everybody contributes to monthly for upkeep, as well as deciding who picks up the bill come

WINTER ISSUE

the morning. “It’s not a job that anyone put their hand up for without a bit of a nomination! But it’s going really well, there’s a good buzz about the place.”

Back on the business side, Thyer now wants Fat Dragon Coffee to continue its development. “We plan to continue growing the wholesale and online trade. Having a physical location is something always on the cards, we brought a third partner onboard last year, so he’s going to manage that going forward. In the next three to four years that’s the main aim, and he’ll definitely help us with his previous experience.”

Brad also hopes that they’ll be able to bring the van to match days at Trailfinders in the future after having set up a successful coffee-drinking

community at the Arms Park following Cardiff matches.

He finally adds: “For now, we’ll have to have a chat with the commercial team at TFSC because it’s something that we’d love to set up down here in London too. We’re also in contact with a few coffee shops in Twickenham and Soho. It’s been a big learning curve for us because the amount of coffee drank in London is very different to Cardiff!”

The three types of coffee currently on offer are The Fat Dragon, The Raging Dragon and Y Ddraig Dew, which can all be found on their website.

facebook.com/fatdragoncoffee @fatdragoncoffee www.fatdragoncoffee.com

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Q+A EALING TRAILFINDERS TIMES

ALUMNI SUCCESS

WILL

HARRIES Will Harries played for Ealing Trailfinders between 2014 and 2019 making 56 appearances and scoring 115 points, he represented Wales on three occasions, making his debut against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2010.

What do you do for work and who do you work for?

I work for a wealth management company call Lumin Wealth, based in St Albans and Farringdon. I work as a Financial Adviser

How did you prepare for life after rugby during your playing career?

I explored a few different career options but ultimately I settled on finance. I started studying and linked up with a qualified adviser for experience.

What are the best bits about your role?

I am out of the office a lot, meeting lots of different people in different locations and helping them out with financial plans. It keeps the job interesting and rewarding.

What advice would you give to the current playing squad about preparing for their post-rugby lives?

You have a lot of time on your hands after training.

Definitely start exploring different industries, use your rugby contacts to get work experience, and once you’re settled on a path, start the qualifications for whatever is needed for your next role.

When you end up finishing rugby, being able to move at a decent level will make the transition much easier.

Also…. play more golf (when Tom lets you on feet)!

What is your best memory in an Ealing Trailfinders Shirt?

Beating London Irish in my last game, scoring in the final and winning the cup. It was a great game, we’d been 22

pushing to beat one of the premiership teams for a long time and this was the first time we did it.

What was the best moment of your rugby career as a whole?

Touring New Zealand with Wales and getting my first cap. It was an amazing tour. I faced the Haka, learnt the Māori culture and got to see different parts of the country. We did some amazing activities like bungee jumping, Mercedes drifting and car day, dragon boat racing and a few good nights out!

If you are interested in connecting with old team mates & hearing about Alumni events join the Ealing Trailfinders Alumni mailing list at: info@etprm.com

2024

WINTER ISSUE

E LE VAT E YOU R E V E RYDAY From spas to swims to gyms to Clubrooms and everything in between, welcome to daily life, done differently.

Spa • Pool • Gym • Classes • Clubroom • Kids Club David Lloyd Ac ton Park. East Ac ton Lane. West London, W3 7HB

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EALING TRAILFINDERS TIMES

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2024

WINTER ISSUE

Raw Turmeric Original Ingredients: Watermelon, Turmeric Root (30%), Pineapple, Lemon, Flax Oil, Black Pepper. No sweeteners, No Apple Juice, No Water, No Preservatives.

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EALING TRAILFINDERS TIMES

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Q+A

MEET THE TRAILFINDER

WEST END TO

WEST EALING

We get to know Trailfinders Women’s Lead Physiotherapist Jacob Mitchell.

What does your role entail?

Has rugby always been the field you’ve worked in?

My job is to look after the squad’s health and wellbeing so they can perform on a Saturday. This, of course, involves assessing and rehabbing injuries throughout the season, but I also work closely with the S&C and coaching staff to plan and modify sessions depending on individual player requirements and try to reduce the risk of suffering injuries in the first place.

I’ve been pretty lucky in my career so far, and this is my 8th season working in professional rugby, including 3 seasons with the men’s team here at Trailfinders. I did take 2 years out of rugby to go and work as a physio for The Lion King in the West End which was an amazing experience, and so different to the rugby world I was used to.

What is your favourite part of the job?

I love how varied the days are. I can go from providing pitchside trauma cover, to heading into town to consultations with top surgeons, to working 1-on-1 with players through their rehab, all in one working day.

How has the broad range of experience you’ve gained helped you in this role?

I’ve always been interested in physio, though if I was to do anything else I’d definitely be a firefighter.

I’ve been fortunate to work with and learn from loads of great practitioners throughout my career, and that has definitely given me the experience needed to do a job like this. I try to take the best bits of what other physios have taught me and combine this with everything I’ve experienced along the way to provide the best care I can for our players.

How challenging has it been to adapt to the Allianz PWR’s intensity in the team’s inaugural season?

Do you apply the notion of ‘hakuna matata’ to your role here?

It’s been a great challenge. The competition is really tough and the demand on the players is high, but I’m lucky to be supported by a great medical team at the club which helps us deliver for the players over a long season.

I feel like this applies to my whole life to be honest. I’m quite laid back in my approach to life, and try not to spend time worrying about things out of my control. If things go wrong, I work out why, and then get on to the next job.

Are there different injuries more common in the women’s game compared to the men’s?

How does it feel to be back at TFSC?

Did you always want to be a physiotherapist?

The big one that everyone talks about is ACL injuries, where rates are consistently higher in women’s sport than in the men’s game. These are such devastating injuries for athletes, often resulting in 9-12 months out, and there is lots of work going on behind the scenes to try and reduce the risk of ACL injuries in women’s sport at the moment.

It’s great to be back. There are lots of familiar faces at the club which made starting a new role in a brand-new programme that little bit easier and I’m excited to be contributing to Trailfinders Women story in their inaugural Allianz PWR season.

What is the most stressful part of match day?

As a pitch-side physio you have to be ready to deal with whatever injuries or medical issues you’re faced with on the day. That is always a bit stressful as you never know what could happen during the game, but it’s also part of why I enjoy the job so much – the extra adrenaline keeps you focussed.

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EALING TRAILFINDERS TIMES

D O N ’ T TA C K L E T H E W O R L D A L O N E TRUST T R A I L F I N D E R S

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