2 minute read
Rugby club connecting the community in Ealing
by Tim Smith
Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club has long been at the heart of our community – a place where players, coaches, volunteers, families and local businesses come together around a shared passion for rugby.
From elite men’s and women’s teams competing at the top level, to one of the country’s busiest minis and youth set-ups, the club is home to a thriving pathway for talent at every age and stage. On any given weekend, Trailfinders Sports Club is filled with toddlers, teenagers and first-team players all wearing the club’s green and white colours.
We’re fortunate to play in a venue that not only stages rugby at the highest level but also welcomes over half a million people each year through a wide range of sport and community activities. This season carries even more momentum thanks to England hosting the record-breaking, and biggest Women’s Rugby World Cup in history. With the final having taken place in late September, Trailfinders are proud to have contributed 18 players across nine different countries – a remarkable figure from a single club. This included England Vice-Captain and World Player of the Year Nominee, Meg Jones featuring alongside Abi Burton as part of the winning Red Roses England team. That breadth of representation reflects both the depth of our talent and the growing profile of women’s rugby, which continues to inspire new supporters and participants.
But rugby at Ealing Trailfinders is about more than just what happens on the field. This year we are launching Connect Through Sport, an initiative designed to bridge the gap between athletes and life outside of sport. It is a network that brings together players, alumni, students and local businesses, creating opportunities that work in both directions.
For those curious about how Connect Through Sport could benefit both your business and our players, we’d love to welcome you into the network.
For businesses, it offers access to a pool of ambitious, motivated individuals eager to take their first steps into the workforce. For players, it opens doors to opportunities like apprenticeships, internships and part-time roles that support their career aspirations alongside their sporting commitments, and sets them up for permanent positions in the future.
The outcomes can be life-changing: a women’s player taking on part-time work in her chosen profession while pursuing her rugby dream; an academy graduate moving straight into an internship thanks to an introduction at the club; or a local business gaining a dedicated young professional who brings the same discipline and drive off the pitch as on it.
We’re inviting West London businesses to join us as founding members of Connect Through Sport by becoming
“NextPlay Partners”. There’s no need to have immediate vacancies – the aim is to build the community now, stay connected, and grow together.
We are proud of our association with West London Chambers and were grateful to
