Ealing building case for Premiership

FIJI international prop Campese Ma’Afu will be the next Premiership player to head to Ealing Trailfinders at the end of the season.

In the past fortnight, the ambitious Championship club have confirmed the signings of Guy Armitage (Wasps), Tom Denton (Gloucester), Sam Olver (Worcester), Ben Betts (Leicester) and Harry Sloan (Harlequins), while Joe Simpson and Paul Doran-Jones (both Wasps) are also understood to be targets.

Ma’Afu, below, has made 20 appearances for Saints this season and 34 overall in just over two years at Franklin’s Gardens.

The 33-year-old Sydneyborn loose-head, who has also had spells at Cardiff Blues and Nottingham, won his 50th cap for Fiji against Canada last November and has appeared in the last two World Cups. Bedford’s former England U20 World Cup winner, winger Howard Packman, will also be on board next season. The 22-year-old came through the Northampton Academy and made his debut aged 18 against Gloucester in 2013. He went on to make seven first team appearances for Saints but then had brief loan spells at London Scottish and Rotherham Titans before a permanent move to Bedford.

Meanwhile, TRP understands scrum-half Kieran Hardy is heading back to west Wales to re-join the Scarlets.

The 22-year-old former Wales U20 international has enjoyed an impressive season in the Championship and will be one of at least five Reds players to step up a level next season.

Props Jake Woolmore and Jake Armstrong, along with winger Tom Pincus, are off to Bristol while fullback Scott van Breda is heading for Worcester.