Ealing beef up Prem bid with Doran-Jones
EALING Trailfinders have issued another statement of intent ahead of next season by swooping for former England prop Paul Doran-Jones.
Doran-Jones is set to leave Wasps at the end of this season along with his best mate, James Haskell, and The Rugby Paper understands that the 33year-old is the latest big name to be recruited by big-spending Ealing.
The ambitious Championship outfit have already cherry-picked Yorkshire Carnegie’s best talent, including the likes of Ollie Stedman, Marc Thomas and Ben West, and look determined to make a push for the Premiership under the tutelage of Ben Ward and Alex Codling. Joe Buckle and Chris Elder are staying put at Carnegie though, despite interest.
Ealing have signed another player with Wasps connections, Bedford hooker George Edgson, a 22-year-old former England U18 international who came through Wasps’ Academy.
Doran-Jones, who won the last of his six England caps in 2009, is currently in his third spell at Wasps, having rejoined the club from Gloucester last year. He has made only four appearances this season due to injury – knee ligament surgery followed by a calf problem – making for a frustrating campaign, although he is expected to be available again soon.
While the signing of Doran-Jones shows Ealing mean business, it will also compensate for the loss of fellow props, Will Davis and Lewis Thiede, to Northampton and Bristol, respectively.
Another player who is rumoured to be swapping Vallis Way for the West Country is South African utility back Luke Daniels. There is talk that Daniels, who has been with Ealing for four seasons, has signed a two-year deal with Bristol.