Ealing Trailfinders are intensifying their promotional endeavors and escalating their investments both on and off the field by securing a series of notable signings.
Here, we examine five players who are said to have joined their ranks for the upcoming 2023/24 Championship season.
#1. Billy Twelvetrees from Gloucester
The fly-half/ centre will depart Gloucester at the end of the season after making over 270 appearances for the Cherry & Whites over an 11-year period.
Twelvetrees arrived in the West Country in 2012 on the back of winning the Premiership with Leicester Tigers and hit the ground running, as he earned himself an England call-up ahead of the 2013 Six Nations.
He made the dream debut, as he scored against Scotland as England won the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham. His impressive display during the Championship saw him go on tour to Argentina in that summer, where he made one appearance before being drafted into Warren Gatland’s British & Irish Lions squad in Australia.
Quickly becoming a fan favourite at Kingsholm, Twelvetrees was named Gloucester Rugby’s Club Captain ahead of the 2014-15 season, leading the side to a second European Challenge Cup title at the end of that year.
Last year he notched up his 250th appearance for the club and this season he has currently played in a further 16 games, including a memorable performance in La Rochelle as he pulled the strings from fly-half as Gloucester almost knocked out the reigning champions had it not been for a late try from the hosts.
On joining the club, Billy Twelvetrees said: “When the opportunity to join an ambitious club like Ealing Trailfinders came up, it was one I was really excited to take.
“I’m still loving playing rugby and being around that team environment and so I’m hungry to help get the club into the highest league possible and I can’t wait to get stuck in with the boys in preseason.”
Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “To have a player of Billy’s quality and experience coming to TFSC next season is really exciting.
“He is a quality operator who can play at 10, 12 or 13 and his passion for the game and to keep playing and keep performing means we have no doubt he’ll be a great addition to the club.”
#2. Lloyd Williams from Cardiff
The scrum-half will depart Cardiff Rugby after 13 years of service for the region, making 260 appearances, which is a new record in the professional era for the side.
He made his debut for Cardiff back in 2010 against Leinster and has been a mainstay in the team ever since. He is known for his pace around the ruck and quality kicking game and has scored 42 tries for the region.
His fine form for Cardiff hasn’t gone unnoticed, as he has amassed 32 caps for Wales, with his debut coming in 2011 against Argentina. He has been to two World Cups, New Zealand in 2011 and England in 2015, and has also represented the Welsh 7s side and Wales U20 at the 2009 Junior World Cup.
As well as playing at World Cups, Lloyd also has a strong record in the Six Nations, having won the Championship on three occasions. He was part of the team that won the Grand Slam in 2012 and then retained the title a year later in 2013. After nearly four years away from the national side, he was recalled to the Wales setup in 2020, playing in the Autumn Nations Championship before winning the Six Nations again in 2021.
After a superb final season at Cardiff, Lloyd was named the Peter Thomas Player of the Season this year, being selected personally by Thomas during the final days before his passing.
On joining the club, Lloyd Williams said: “I’m really excited to be making the move over to Ealing Trailfinders.
“After such a long time at one club, when the opportunity arose to test myself in a different league and a new environment, it was one I was keen to take.”
Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “The signing of Lloyd hugely exciting for all of us at the club.
“I’ve admired him and his style of play for some time, and I’m confident he should slot in well with how we want to play.”