Trailfinders 'buzzing' ahead of Cup semi-final against Leicester Tigers

Ealing Trailfinders beat Northampton Saints in pool stage of the Premiership Rugby Cup

For years, facilities at Ealing Trailfinders were deemed inadequate for hosting rugby's biggest clubs, and they were denied entry to the top tier.

But this weekend, the west Londoners will play host to 11-time Premiership champions Leicester Tigers as the two clubs face off for a place in the Rugby Cup final.

"There's a buzz around the club this week; we want to test ourselves against the biggest clubs in England," director of rugby Ben Ward told BBC Radio London.

This is the first season Championship clubs have been entered into the Premiership Rugby Cup, and the west London club have already beaten Northampton Saints and Bristol Bears on the way to the semi-finals.

Now they welcome the 2022 Premiership champions to Trailfinders Sports Club, and director of rugby Ben Ward said his players are ready to prove themselves on the big stage.

"Obviously, they've got some guys away with the Six Nations; [but] I'm expecting a very strong Leicester team to be coming to us this weekend," said Ward.

"They will want to get to the final as well, and in every competition Leicester Tigers are in, they'll be expected to win.

"It will be a fantastic atmosphere at the Sports Club; everyone's excited, and training is going really well."

Trailfinders have finished in the top two of the Championship in each of the last eight seasons.

They reached the 2020-21 Championship play-off final, where they lost against Saracens over two legs, before winning the league the following season.

The Rugby Football Union had warned Trailfinders that it would deny the club the chance for promotion to the Premiership unless they could increase the capacity of their Vallis Way home.

In 2021, a groundshare agreement was announced with Saracens at StoneX Stadium, but it was rejected as it had missed the deadline.

Club deemed ineligible for promotion

The club was deemed ineligible for promotion in the following two seasons due to Vallis Way not meeting Premiership criteria.

But this season they have won five games out of five in the pool stage of the Premiership Rugby Cup, as Championship teams have been allowed entry for the first time.

Bristol were beaten 28-12 on their own patch and Northampton were brushed aside 48-22 in Ealing.

With no Premiership or Six Nations rugby this weekend, Ward is hoping for a big crowd as his side aim to set up a final against Exeter Chiefs or Gloucester.

"We don't fear anything, it's brilliant for us to welcome Leicester Tigers to the Trailfinders Sports Club and we're really going to enjoy this week," he said.

"We've maybe already created some history by getting through to the semi-finals and we want to create some more history by getting through to a final."

Ealing Trailfinders face Leicester Tigers at Trailfinders Sports Club at 15:00 GMT on Sunday, with Gloucester hosting Exeter Chiefs in the other semi-final on Saturday.