Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders has come a long way since the sport was first played on Ealing Common and when the club’s secretary missed out on the founding meeting of the Rugby Football Union in 1871, by visiting the wrong tavern in Piccadilly.

Over the years as Ealing Football Club (RU) established themselves as one of the premier junior clubs in the capital, moving around the borough as they sought premises of their own.

From the 1960’s onwards the club was based at Horsenden Hill in Greenford, but in 1999 they moved across the M40 to link up with Trailfinders, who had recently purchased the lease at Vallis Way and were seeking an anchor tennant.

Ealing Trailfinders had a difficult 2013, and were relegated on the final day of the Championship season, back to National One.

Following relegation there were major changes at Vallis Way as Mike Cudmore stepped down as Director of Rugby following 12 years and five promotions, and was replaced by Ben Ward.

Since then the club went straight back up to the Championship, and have now established themselves as a recognised club in England’s second tier.

In 2015/16 they saw off the challenge of Moseley to ensure they stayed in the division, and then attracted a host of new players as they looked to move up the table. Last season saw Trailfinders qualify for the semi-finals of the Championship, after 12 wins from their 20 matches ensured they finished in third place.

They faced Yorkshire Carnegie in the play-offs, and despite a 20-18 victory at Headingley, a 36-52 aggregate defeat meant that the Leeds outfit went through to the final.