As talk of ringfencing the Premiership grew last weekend, Ealing Trailfinders sent out a loud proclamation of their credentials to sit at English rugby’s main table. With a 28-27 victory over the three-time European champions Saracens, the club that was competing on the game’s fifth rung as recently as 2009 lent their voice to the discourse.
“Of course we’re against ringfencing,” Ealing’s 28-year-old South African skipper tells The Rugby Paper. “We’re not happy lingering in the Championship. We’ve shown we can compete against bigger clubs. We’re only getting started.”
Smid’s 80 minutes at the Trailfinders Sports Ground was one of several standout displays by the men in green and white hoops. His own performance was further amplified by the fact that his opposite number was England’s battering ram Billy Vunipola.
“To play against Billy was special but we weren’t overawed in any way,” Smid says. “We were all eager to put him on the floor as soon as he got the ball. Every time he touched it we had two guys on him.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin January 24, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin January 24, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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