Author Archives: Paul Clarke

Tom Brown will bring much needed experience to Ealing Trailfinders’ bid for promotion from National 1 having signed for the Club from Jersey.

The 31-year-old backrower spent one season in the Channel Islands and featured off the bench in the match at St Peters, which was Ealing Trailfinders’ first win in the Greene King IPA Championship.

“Tom is an exceptional player,” Director of Coaching Ben Ward said. “He has played at the top level and will bring that experience with him. Things didn’t work out for him in Jersey last year and he is hungry to make an impact.”

The Doncaster-born Brown qualified for both Wales and England through his parents and opted to play for the Principality at U21 level, featuring at the 2004 U21 IRB World Championship against South Africa, England, France and Russia.

That year he also represented the Wales Rugby League side at the European Nations Cup.

At club level he came through at Hartpury College where he studied Sports Conditioning and Coaching before going on to play for Worcester Warriors, London Welsh, Cardiff Blues and Newport Gwent Dragons before he joined Jersey.

“He can play at 6 and 8 and brings great ball carrying ability that will help us to get on the front foot,” Ward added. “It brings more competition to the back row and this can only be a good thing and inspire the players to push each other harder.”

Ealing Trailfinders have bolstered their second and back-row options ahead of the 2014-15 season by bringing in Michael Walker Fitton and Redford Pennycock.

Walker-Fitton joins Ealing Trailfinders from Doncaster Knights, whom he joined in 2013. The Burnley-born player began playing at his local club Caldervale, before he joined Sale Sharks Academy.

From there he enjoyed time in Spain, where he played for champions La Vila in the Amlin Challenge Cup, France, where he played for RC Chateaurenard and Australia, where he ran out for Randwick.

At 6’5” and 18stone 12, he has the physical presence and skills to play both in the second row, at number 8 and one the blindside flank.

“Michael brings a huge physical presence to the pitch which is an area we have tried to really improve on from last season,” Director of Coaching Ben Ward said.

“However, his biggest attribute comes at the lineout area where he is a skilled technician at studying and calling the right options. On top of this he has a great set of hands which will be great for our running and attacking game.”

Pennycock, who can play both open and blindside flank, joins Ealing Trailfinders from Bristol Rugby, who he had played for since 2012 when he joined from Newcastle Falcons.

The 28-year-old came through the Academy at the Memorial Stadium and made 58 appearances after his debut against Bath in October 2005. After returning to the West Country he played 23 times in the 2012-13 and then followed up with 11 in 2013-14, including the match against Ealing Trailfinders at the Memorial Stadium.

“Red brings with him a lot of experience playing at the top level,” Ward said. “He also brings a physical presence at 6’3” and 16stone, 7 and is a good ball carrier.

“He gives us options of being able to play six and seven. This will enable us to have variety in our build up of our back row and add more competition to an already competitive area.”

Ealing Trailfinders are delighted to announce that they have signed flanker Arthur Ellis from Welsh side the Ospreys.

The 24-year-old hails from the Ealing area and attended St Benedict’s School. He previously played for London Wasps, London Scottish and Chinnor before crossing the Severn Bridge to play for Bridgend Ravens and Newport before moving to the Ospreys.

At 5’9” Ellis is a flanker in the Neil Back mould, quick to the breakdown where he is able to use his abrasiveness and strength to win plenty of turnover ball.

“Arthur is someone we played against when he was coming through the academy at Wasps,” Director of Coaching Ben Ward said. “He played hooker that day for Chinnor and caused us endless problems around the pitch.

“He has been playing for the Ospreys and in the Welsh Premiership and he will bring speed to our back row. He has great hands and will certainly thrive especially on our new pitch.”

Ealing Trailfinders have brought in an all-Welsh half-back combination ahead of the 2014-15 season.

Fly-half Matt Jarvis joins from Nottingham, while scrum-half Alex Walker crosses the Severn Bridge to sign on at Vallis Way having enjoyed two years playing with Cardiff Blues.

Jarvis, 23, played for Nottingham at Vallis Way last season and in total landed 249 points for the East Midlands club in 2013-14. During his time at Meadow Lane he became well-regarded for his ability to land long-range penalty kicks, though at 6’4” his rangy running meant he was also a threat with the ball in hand.

In the past he has played for Wales at U18 and U20 level and he has Heineken Cup and RaboDirect Pro 12 experience from his time with the Ospreys and Connacht.

“Matt is someone who impressed when we played Nottingham at home,” Director of Coaching Ben Ward said. “He has a good distribution game and is able to take the ball to the line with his size and get the offloads away.

“He has the ability to play more than one position and has a huge boot off the tee and out of hand. I’m very much looking forward to working with him.”

Walker arrives in W13 having previously played for the Wales 7’s team, for whom he has been one of their core contracted players for the past five seasons. The 27-year-old has also worn the red jersey at U18, U19 and U21 levels.

The scrum-half came through the ranks at his local side, Newport Gwent Dragons for whom he played 30 times before he moved to Cardiff Blues in late 2012. During his time at both provinces he played Heineken Cup, RadoDirect and British and Irish Cup rugby.

“Alex brings with him a huge amount of experience and he comes in the Mike Philips mould at over 90kg,” Ward said.

“He has been representing Wales at 7’s over the past few years and to do that you need to be extremely fit. For our style of rugby to be successful our scrum half has to be the fittest person on the pitch. We now have three very good nine’s who will push each other throughout the season to be better and better.”

Ealing Trailfinders are delighted to announce that Luke Daniels has signed for the club for the 2014-15 season.

Daniels joins from Esher, where he has appeared as fly-half, fullback and wing for the past three seasons. He notched up 267 points last season as the Surrey side finished fifth in National 1and earned himself a place in The Rugby Paper’s National 1 dream team in the number 15 shirt.

“Luke’s running game will certainly excite the fans next season,” Director of Coaching Ben Ward said. “He has a good brain combined with electric pace and he is one to watch. On top of this he is a prolific goal kicker.”

The 22-year-old South African has also appeared for England Counties U20 and Surrey U20.

Ealing Trailfinders have strengthened their front-row options for the 2014-15 season further with the signing of Lithuanian international prop Ignas Darkintis as well as fellow front-row players Will Davis and Alun Walker.

Darkintis moves to Vallis Way from Coventry, for whom he made 21 appearances last season. The tight-head prop has won 16 caps for his homeland and previously played for Birmingham and Solihull and Spanish side AMPO Ordizia RE.

The 24-year-old stands at 6’1’’ and weighs at 18 stone, 3 pounds.

“Ignas is a tight-head prop who prides himself on his work at the set-piece,” Director of Coaching Ben Ward said. “He spent some time training at London Scottish earlier this season and James Buckland spoke very highly of him.”

Will Davis joins from Bristol Rugby. Last season he played 24 matches in total for both Bristol and on loan with Cinderford. He had previously come through the Bristol Academy having previously played for Worcester Warrior and Bath’s academies.

The 24-year-old has also represented England U18s, the South West and Gloucestershire.

“Will is someone who we looked at last year,” Ward said. “It did not quite work out, but I’m delighted to finally get him to come to Ealing Trailfinders for the coming season.

“He is predominantly a loose-head, but can play on the tight-head side and did so for Bristol in the British and Irish Cup. He will add more competition to the front row and help give us a solid platform up front. Around the park he is a very good ball carrier and extremely mobile for a prop.”

Scotland ‘A’ international Walker joins on a two-year contract from Edinburgh having spent last season on loan at Nottingham. During his time in the East Midlands he played in both matches against Ealing Trailfinders.

The 23-year-old has also represented Scotland at U18, U19 and U20 level and played for Melrose and Currie.

“Alun is a modern day hooker,” Ward said. “He is a big lad but has a very good running and handling game. I was very impressed with him when he played for Nottingham against us, when he made a number of carries.”

Ealing Trailfinders’ players will have the chance to show off their cross-sporting skills when they take on Ealing Trailfinders Cricket Club in a T20 match.

If you want to see if Phil Chesters is as quick between the wickets as he is racing towards the try-line, or whether Morgan Thompson’s bowling is as quick and true as his passing or whether Steve Pape is as powerful with a cricket bat as he is charging at an opposition’s pack, then head down to Vallis Way on Wednesday 18 June.

It will be the first chance for Ealing Trailfinders fans to come and meet the new players and catch up with those who have signed on for the 2014-15 season. The bar will be open and a barbeque on the go to provide refreshment for those on and off the field.

The first ball is due to be fizzed down the wicket at 18.00, so come down and cheer on both teams.