Ealing is known for many great things. Our wonderful history as part of the film industry, our fabulous parks and green spaces, and our great transport links to the rest of London and other places in the South.
But what many people don’t seem to know, and something we need to change, is that we have a Championship rugby team in our borough a few minutes away from Scotch Common – Ealing Trailfinders. And they’re very close to winning this Championship season.
The Ealing Trailfinders began in the late 1860s, under the name Ealing Football Club. They were officially established in 1871 as the Ealing Rugby Football Club, two months after the creation of the Rugby Football Union, which they were invited to become an original part of, but for an unconfirmed reason, was unable to.
In 1999, the club moved to the Trailfinders Sports Ground, West Ealing and from then became known as Ealing Trailfinders. Since then, the men’s team have worked hard to become part of the RFU Championship, working their way through the National Divisions and National Leagues to get to where they are today. They were promoted to the Championship in 2015 and came in 11th, just about managing to avoid relegation.
Despite this, Trailfinders have since solidified their place as a force to be reckoned with, coming in third in the 2016-17 season. In every Championship since they have either been winners or runners up, and this current season is no exception. Trailfinders currently sit at the top of the table, and have been for most of this Championship. Now, the team only need two more points to win, and with two matches left, that fate is looking even more likely.
This Saturday (11 May 2024), Trailfinders head to Castle Park in Doncaster, to face off against the Doncaster Knights, currently in fifth place. Earlier in the season, Ealing won against Doncaster, with 49 points to their 31. Yet this is an away game, and despite Ealing’s losses being few and far between, they have all happened at away games. And, in fact, Doncaster’s most recent game, against Bedford Blues, was tied, until Bedford pulled out a drop goal in the 80th minute. It is clear, anything could happen at Castle Park.
Finally, Ealing will welcome Bedford Blues to Vallis Way on 25 May 2024, in the last game of the season. Bedford were the first team to face Ealing in this Championship season back in October, and Ealing’s 41 to Bedford’s 21 ensured the Trailfinders a great start to the season. But Bedford have risen up the ranks throughout the season and sit comfortably on the table in fourth place.
With so much at play, it’s time for us across Ealing to come together and give our Trailfinders all the support they need.
