Ealing Trailfinders and Brunel University have renewed their rugby partnership for another decade.
Since its inception in 2018, the alliance has seen over 500 student players pass through the Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Scholarship Programme. These players get access to elite-level coaching, medical support and state-of-the-art facilities, including two 4G pitches and a high-performance training centre on Brunel’s Uxbridge campus.
The initiative has produced more than 25 athletes for Ealing Trailfinders’ men’s side and over 20 for the Trailfinders Women team, now both stalwarts of the Championship and Premiership respectively.
Notable alumni include Josh Taylor, who represented Scotland U20s; Elliot Chilvers, an inaugural academy member who debuted in 2021; and Maud Muir, now with Gloucester-Hartpury, who has 40 England caps and two Grand Slams to her name.
Ben Ward, Ealing Trailfinders’ director of rugby and managing director, said: “We’re thrilled to be working in close partnership with Brunel for the next 10 years. We view our partnership as a unique set-up for rugby in this country, by linking our academy with a university – and with Brunel’s sporting prowess. Our ongoing long-term partnership confirms Ealing Trailfinders’ and Brunel’s commitment to build the most comprehensive rugby university academy in Europe.”
The collaboration has also launched careers off the pitch. Simone Panella founded Dyamotech, a sports tech startup, while Callum Macaulay rose to head of performance analysis at the club.
Professor Jonathan Wastling, Brunel’s deputy vice-chancellor, said the partnership had been “transformational” and praised its wider benefits for students and the local community.
