TRAILFINDERS PREPARE FOR NEW SEASON WITH SIGNINGS
TRAILFINDERS REVEAL SEVERAL NEW RECRUITS FOR THE 2020/21 SEASON
BUSY Ealing Trailfinders have revealed a host of new signings ahead of the 2020/21 season.
Highly-rated lock Simon Linsell graduated from the Gloucester Academy and has been one of the standout performers in the Championship after spending a year captaining Hartpury.
Linsell was at Kingsholm as a 17-year-old but then went to the University of Exeter to study, where he also captained their successful BUCS Super Rugby side.
He has made three appearances for the Gloucester first team and came through the academy with the likes of Lewis Ludlow and Ollie Thorley.
“I can’t wait to join up with Ealing Trailfinders,” he said. “I like how ambitious the club is and I’m really excited to see what we can achieve.”
Ealing’s director of rugby Ben Ward is pleased to have secured Linsell’s signature.
He said: “Simon is a very hard working player who has shown his quality in the last couple of years. He brings good leadership skills and ability at the set piece. Lineout forwards are harder to find these days and I’m delighted to have signed Simon after trying previously.”
Will Davis is returning on a permanent deal after a successful loan move from Northampton Saints.
The prop returned to west London for a second spell in October after making seven appearances at Franklin’s Gardens and has settled back in to life in green and white.
He is one of the most experienced members of the squad, having played 94 times for the Trailfinders, making him on course to become just the second centurion at the club in the professional era.
Davis originally signed for the club back in 2014 for a four-year spell, which included winning promotion from National One as well as the British & Irish Cup.
His partnership with the likes of Alun Walker in the front-row has been crucial to the scrum moving forward in recent years.
“It was an easy decision to rejoin permanently,” he said.
“I loved my time in the Premiership with Saints and I’ve come back to Ealing a better and more mature player.
“The challenge for me now is to consistently show that and help push the group forward as a senior player. The club is building nicely on and off the field and with the return of Alex Codling and the squad we have, I can’t wait to get stuck into training and see what we can achieve this season.”
Another recruit is Max Bodilly, who has signed from Exeter Chiefs.
The centre is a product of the academy at Sandy Park and he has gone on to make 36 appearances for Rob Baxter’s side. The fast-footed back has since established himself as a dangerous runner with an eye for try-scoring.
He made his senior Chiefs debut in an LV= Cup encounter against the Ospreys in 2014 and progressed on to represent Exeter in the Aviva Premiership, Anglo-Welsh and European Champions Cup.
Fighting alongside the likes of Henry Slade and Ollie Devoto for a place in the midfield, he has also been dual-registered for the past few seasons with Cornish Pirates, featuring regularly for the Cornish club in the Championship.
Winger Angus Kernohan is another signing, joining from Ulster. The 21-year-old highly-rated winger is an exciting arrival from the Kingspan Stadium on a two-year deal.
He has made 21 appearances for the Belfast-based side after graduating from their academy, including seven starts in the Pro 14 and two appearances in the Heineken Champions Cup.
Kernohan joined the full-time ranks of the academy in 2018 and then went on to become an almost constant feature in senior matchday squads, leading to a first team contract.
His quality has also been recognised on the international front and he was a significant part of the Ireland U20s Six Nations Grand Slam winning team in 2019.
Meanwhile, Craig Hampson and Jordan Burns have both signed new contracts, while Nathan Fowles already had another year remaining on his current deal.
David Johnston has signed a twoyear deal. The former Munsterman has been in west London for the last two seasons, becoming a vital member of the squad.
Johnston has made 32 appearances and is highly rated by the coaches for his reliable and consistent performances. He played 14 times in the shorter 19/20 season, mainly in the 13 shirt.
He was involved in the Championship Cup triumph against London Irish during his first season which ended in silverware, and as he heads towards his third year he will be competing with the likes of Pat Howard, Jack Tovey and Bodilly for a place in the matchday squad.