With promotion back Ealing Trailfinders will be gunning for Championship glory

Ben Jaycock looks at who could challenge Ben Ward’s west London side as the season prepares to kick off next weekend

As the new Championship season approaches with promotion a genuine possibility, the question on everyone’s lips is can anyone challenge champions Ealing Trailfinders?

This season’s title race is all the more important after the RFU announced earlier this summer that promotion and relegation between the Premiership and Championship will be reinstated via a two-legged play-off for the first time since 2020/21, providing the Championship outfit meets the minimum standards criteria which have been relaxed.

One of the main points is a stadium capacity of at least 5,000 as long as they have a four-year plan to increase their capacity to 7,500 and eventually 10,000.

Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing have won two of the last three titles with only Jersey Reds, who are now defunct, beating the west Londoners to the title in 2022/23.

Ben Ward’s side finished seven points above runners-up Cornish Pirates and nine in front of Coventry but will operate with a fresh look to their matchday 23 next season after multiple signings and departures.

Billy Twelvetrees has become backs and attacks coach at Hartpury University but Ealing as expected have brought in an abundance of experienced players with prop James Kenny the standout, signing from Exeter Chiefs with the 25-year-old having made 33 appearances for the Premiership side.

Versatile second/back row forward Matas Jurevicius joins from Harlequins and fly-half Dan Jones, who has played over 150 times for the Scarlets, moves across.

Director of rugby Ward said: “Dan is a very experienced fly-half which is a vital thing to have in any rugby team.

“We wanted to bring in someone who could really add to what we are doing on and off the pitch and we are delighted to have him with us.

“James is someone we have tracked for a while. He has good competition at loosehead and we think he is up for the challenge, and is looking to kick on with his career.

“Matas is a brilliant addition to an already strong pack we have here at Trailfinders.

“I think he can add a lot around the park, on top of being a good option at the set-piece.

We’re really excited to see what he can bring ahead of the new season.”

Ealing have looked good in pre-season recording a 36-28 victory over last season’s Premiership finalists Bath at The Rec last weekend.

Doncaster Knights

However, despite the experienced players joining Ealing, none come close to the marquee of new Doncaster Knights recruit Semesa Rokoduguni.

The Fijian-born Army servant played for Bath across 10 seasons, making 194 appearances and scoring 71 tries, and also represented England on four occasions, scoring as many times, with his debut being against the All Blacks in the 2014 Autumn Internationals and his last against Samoa in 2017.

Head coach Joe Ford is delighted with his star winger’s arrival, saying: “His experience and knowledge of the game will certainly boost the squad both on and off the pitch.

“He’s an incredible player and we are so excited to see him play.”

Rokoduguni’s signing is alongside multiple players with Premiership experience as prop Logovi’i Mulipola brings a wealth of top flight nous to Doncaster, having starred for Leicester Tigers and Newcastle Falcons, alongside his 33 caps for Samoa.

Doncaster finished a disappointing sixth but have recruited Sir Ian McGeehan as consultant director of rugby working alongside Ford as they look to really challenge for this year’s title.

Coventry

Coventry finished second in 2022/23 and were one place worse off last season but it’s clear to see the Midlanders’ progress since head coach Alex Rae took charge.

The loss of Tonga fly-half Patrick Pellegrini to Super Rugby seemed inevitable but will hurt all the same.

Tommy Matthews has been entrusted to fill that void and time will tell if the former Wasps and Northampton fringe player has what it takes to guide Cov to the big time.

Alongside Pellegrini, Will Chudley was The Rugby Paper’s Dream Team half-back combination in each of the last two seasons but the former Bath nine has retired.

Josh Barton provides Premiership experience from his time with Newcastle Falcons and Rae feels he’s the ideal replacement.

Rae said: “As soon as we knew Will was retiring Josh was the first person we wanted to bring in.

“He’s an infectious character who will be hugely popular with players and the fans.

His skillset for a No.9 suits exactly how we want to play so we see it as a perfect fit.”

Cornish Pirates

Cornish Pirates won 15 games, only beaten by Ealing’s 16, last season and made Mennaye Field a fortress once again under co-coaches Gavin Cattle and Alan Paver.

Their partnership with Exeter has provided them with useful talent from the top flight and winger Arthur Relton has permanently signed after the former England U20s player made 27 appearances for the Pirates and scored 13 tries.

James French bolsters their front row after signing from Munster and former England U20s lock

Charlie Rice has returned to Pirates permanently after a short spell on loan from Bristol last season.

Bedford Blues

With Mike Rayer as director of rugby and Michael Le Bourgeois leading the backs, Bedford Blues have been tricky customers, especially at Goldington Road with a fourth-place finish last term.

Talismanic winger Sean French has waved goodbye to return to Ireland in a blow to their attack but the centres have been advanced courtesy of the signing of Joel Matavesi, right, from Northampton Saints.

French’s direct replacement is 22-year-old Louis James from Coventry, who adds a huge amount of versatility to Rayer’s backs division, able to cover all back three positions, as well as outside centre, and has already made close to 50 appearances in the second tier.

Hartpury University

Hartpury University finished fifth last season which was a club record finish for John Barnes’ outfit but the loss of instrumental Matthews to Coventry will take time to get over.

Harry Short was outstanding at openside flanker and his work over the ball is crucial to his side’s development.

Ampthill

Last season’s seventh-place team Ampthill kept their cards close to their chest this summer but have recently revealed some impressive signings.

Hooker Rhys Marshall has linked up with the Bedfordshire outfit from the Highlanders and former Saracens stalwart loosehead Richard Barrington has further bolstered the front row.

Nottingham

Craig Hammond’s Nottingham finished eighth last season and their standout signing is 26-year-old scrum-half Toby Venner who arrives with Premiership experience from Gloucester and Bristol Bears, as well as time in the Championship with Hartpury, Jersey Reds and Coventry.

London Scottish

London Scottish have flirted with relegation since the pandemic and will be desperate to stay clear this season after a Jekyll and Hyde campaign which saw them pick up just four wins but also record a victory over their local rivals Ealing Trailfinders on a memorable day on their home patch.

They have signed seven-time capped Wales international winger Jonah Holmes from neighbours Ealing, who previously scored 24 tries in 45 appearances for Leicester Tigers between 2017-20.

Caldy

Caldy have held their own since joining the second tier ahead of the 2022/23 campaign and director of rugby Gareth Davies has recruited centre Connor Wilkinson on a permanent deal after impressing last season whilst on loan.

Club stalwart Rhys Hayes has moved on to become head coach of National Two North side Chester after making 167 appearances and scoring 230 points in the last seven seasons and his experience at this level will be a hole to fill.

The Merseysiders will hope their electric back three, which includes potent wing Nick Royle, can keep them above the basement position again.

Cambridge

New boys Cambridge recorded just two wins from 20 games as they struggled to adapt to life at level 2 but with relegation reintroduced, the Blood and Sand will need to find a solution quickly to beat the drop.

Richie Williams’ side have been one of the busiest in the division with 11 new players, including a double swoop of props from Championship rivals Ampthill and Nottingham.

Prop Zac Nearchou joins from Ampthill and returns to Cambridge following a season on loan in National One from Wasps.

Fellow prop Jake Bridges arrives from Nottingham, having previously represented Northampton Saints Academy, and Kayde Sylvester returns to his boyhood club Cambridge, where he began his rugby career, from Premiership winners Northampton.

Chinnor

National One winners Chinnor have entered the the second tier for the first time and Nick Easter has recruited well this summer.

Former Edinburgh fly-half Nathan Chamberlain arrives from Hartpury to compete with Callum Pascoe, who joins from Darlington Mowden Park.

Cambridge and Chinnor won’t be participating in this season’s Premiership Cup which has frustrated both camps, but fewer competitive fixtures may aid each of their survival bids given their relatively thin squads.

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