Tom Collins is that latest Premiership star to confirm he's stepping down to the Championship
Rugby NewsTuesday, 01 August 2023 at 15:48
Ealing have announced the signing of Tom Collins ahead of the 2023/24 Championship season.
The versatile back, who is comfortable on the wing or at full back, joins following a stellar period at Northampton Saints.
Collins played with Saints for a decade and throughout that time, recorded 144 appearances and scored 48 tries.
The 28-year-old is a product of the Northampton Academy and also represented England at age grade. He was part of the side that won the 2013 U20s Six Nations and went on to win the Premiership Breakthrough Player of the Year the following year.
Collins made his debut for Saints during their triumphant 2013/14 campaign. He scored a try in their Challenge Cup semi-final against Harlequins on their way to a historic league and European trophy double.
The back would go on to play an important role in Saints 2018/19 Premiership Rugby Cup win, and during the 2022/23 season, Collins scored seven times for Northampton, including braces against Harlequins and Sale Sharks.
After signing with Trailfinders, Collins said: “I can’t wait to continue my rugby journey here.
“I had an unforgettable time with Northampton but I am ready to make new memories and grow my game in London.
“The Trailfinders squad gives me a great opportunity to test myself in a competitive environment and I hope I can bring a lot to the team.”
Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “I am thrilled to welcome Tom to Trailfinders. It is great to sign a player of his calibre and I am confident he will have a significant impact on the squad both on and off the pitch.”
SEVEN OTHER PLAYERS JOINING EALING:
#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.
Billy Twelvetrees of Gloucester Rugby during the Gallagher Premiership match between Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester Rugby at Sandy Park, Exeter on 28th January 2023. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
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.”
#3. Mike Willemse from London Irish
Willemse is a South African hooker who joins having played most recently in the Premiership for London Irish where he made 15 appearances since signing in 2021.
In his first campaign with London Irish, he featured heavily, including playing in all six of their games during the Exile’s run to the 2022 Premiership Cup final, which they agonisingly lost in extra time.
Before coming to the U.K, the hooker was a dominant force in the southern hemisphere. He practiced his craft at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth.
2013 proved to be a breakout season for Willemse, scoring three tries in six starts during the Varsity Cup for the UCT Ikey Tigers.
He would then go on to be included in the South Africa U20s squad for the 2013 Junior World Championship where he played in three games, and scored twice against the United States.
In 2014, he was called up to the Stormers Super Rugby Squad and would go on to make four appearances before moving to the Eastern Province Kings, Golden Lions, and then the Southern Kings.
After eight tries and 42 appearances for Southern Kings, Willemse moved to Edinburgh for two seasons where he scored six times in 40 games, before then moving down to Irish.
After signing with Trailfinders, Willemse said: “I’m excited to get going with another ambitious club London.
“I’ve learned a lot since moving to the U.K and I’m looking forward to bringing that knowledge to Trailfinders as we hunt for silverware.”
Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Mike to the pack. He will provide tremendous competition across the front row as well boosting our set-piece and being a force in the loose.
“It’s great to sign someone of his pedigree and he will be a fine addition to this group of players.”
#4. Jordy Reid from Gloucester
The Australian, who quickly became a fan favourite at TFSC, will return to West-London having made 37 appearances in green and white between 2018 and 2020.
Reid, who left the Trailfinders to join Gloucester, hit the ground running with the Cherry & Whites as he made an instant impact during the latter end of the 2019-20 season after COVID-19 delayed the Gallagher Premiership finale that year.
He since went on to make over 50 appearances for the West-Country outfit, becoming hugely popular among the Kingsholm faithful.
On his return to Ealing, Reid said: “I’m really excited to be re-joining Trailfinders ahead of next season.
Jordy Reid of Gloucester Rugby during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Gloucester Rugby and Saracens at Kingsholm Stadium on June 4 2022 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
“I have such great memories from my first stint and I’ve always remained fond of the club and the supporters, so I can’t wait to get back involved!”
Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “We’re delighted to be able to bring Jordy back to the club after such a successful three years in the Premiership with Gloucester.
“He was such a popular figure within the squad and among the fans when he was with us the first time round, and he’s only improved since then, so we’re looking forward to be welcoming him back to TFSC in June.”
The only change that fans can expect from Reid from his first time at the club is that he now without his signature dreadlocks! Despite not cutting his hair for 13 years, Reid shaved his head following Gloucester’s final league home game, raising over £13,000 in the process for MMD charity 4Ed, in support of his former teammate Ed Slater who is battling the condition.
#5. Henry Walker from Gloucester
The hooker has represented his country at age grade level, playing for England U16s and U18s as well as earning his first cap for England U20s back in February 2017 against Italy.
He started his career at Old Silhillians RUFC at the age of six and captained his school during his time at Bromsgrove.
Walker, a graduate of the Gloucester Rugby Academy, went on to make 63 competitive appearances for the Cherry & Whites following his debut against Barbarians in 2015.
The hooker was also part of the squad that travelled to the 2018 World Rugby U20 Championship in France, where they finished runners-up, losing 25-33 to the hosts in the final.
Upon signing with Trailfinders, Henry Walker said: “I am incredibly excited to start this next chapter of my career at Trailfinders and am relishing this new challenge that awaits in London.
“Trailfinders’ recent successes speaks for itself and I think it is the perfect place to develop my game. I can’t wait to get started!”
Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “I’m looking forward to working with Henry.
“He’s impressed when he had his opportunities at Gloucester and I’m sure he will adapt to our style of play very well.”
#6. Brad Thyer from Cardiff
The loosehead moves to West-London after spending the last eight years in the Welsh capital, where he racked up almost 100 appearances for the United Rugby Championship side.
After representing Wales at U20s level, he made his debut for Cardiff in 2014 against the Scarlets in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
His breakthrough season came three years later, as he made 22 appearances for the region during the 2017/18 season and was part of the team that came back from 6-20 down at half-time to win the European Challenge Cup 31-30 against Gloucester.
As well as playing in Cardiff, he also went on loan to Glasgow Warriors at the start of the 2021/22 campaign, before then returning to the region.
On his move to W13, Brad said: “Joining Ealing Trailfinders poses a really exciting new challenge for me at this stage of my rugby career.
“From speaking to people here, I’m really attracted to the vision of the club and the aspirations of the side to keep developing and to be competing at the highest level.”
Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “We’re really pleased to be able to bring a player of Brad’s ability to the club.
“When he visited us, I really enjoyed meeting him and chatting about his game. He brings all the fundamentals that you need from a prop at the set piece, but also has the mobility around the park to really flourish in this environment.”
#7. Sami Mavinga from Carcassone
The loosehead prop joins Trailfinders following his spell at French Pro D2 side US Carcassone.
Mavinga brings a wealth of experience to the club having started his career at the Lyon OU academy at the age of 13.
He played with Lyon for several seasons and helped his side gain promotion to the Top 14 in 2016 and the following season, represented his club in the European Challenge Cup.
After gaining promotion and getting a taste for European rugby, Mavinga moved to England to play for Newcastle Falcons in 2017. He stayed on Tyneside for two seasons, before making a return to the Top 14, this time with Stade Francais.
Most recently, the Frenchman played for Perpignan before signing with US Carcassone.
On joining Trailfinders, Mavinga said: “I’m delighted to return to England and join with Ealing Trailfinders.
“I have loved my time being back home in France but I am really excited to join a club like Trailfinders. They have had a huge amount of success in recent years and I hope I can help this club to continue to excel.”
Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “I am really looking forward to seeing what Sami brings to the team.
"He has experience of playing in both France and England an I am confident he will enable us grow this club in the right direction.”
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