Trailfinders out to make a statement in JAECOO Next Gen Cup Final

Niamh Swailes is bidding for a statement win in the JAECOO Next Gen Cup final as Trailfinders seek revenge against Saracens at StoneX Stadium on Saturday.

The two sides last met in the PWR final at Twickenham Stoop in June, where Sarries won 52-14 to claim the league title, but they will have a chance to make amends.

Cup captain Swailes is certainly aware of the potential message Trailfinders could send as they compete in their first-ever Cup final and second final just three years into their existence.

“It's cool that it's actually against Saracens again. It’s a different competition and with different players, but we’ll definitely see how it goes. It would be nice [to get revenge]. It would be really nice,” said the 22-year-old.

“It’s just how cool that [our progress] is reflected in the cup as well as the Prem from last season.”

Trailfinders rallied for a comeback win against Swailes’ former club Sale Sharks in the semi-finals, trailing 14-5 at half-time before coming back to win 33-14 in a resurgent second half.

As nerve-racking as it was for the hooker, who was replaced after 49 minutes and had to anxiously watch on from the bench, it made the victory all the sweeter against familiar faces.

“It's good craic, to be fair. I love playing against them. There's always a bit of an edge, but I love it,” said Swailes.

“There are a lot of new players, but my two best friends, Eva [Wood] and Sophie [Hopkins], played in that game, and it's just so nice to see them.

“In that first half, I was stressed because I wasn't on when we were ahead. Literally watching it, I was shaking. I was like, ‘Come on, girls!’

“But then they took it away in the last 20 minutes, thank God. But it was definitely nerve-racking to watch from the bench.

“When we were behind, it wasn't a sense of panic. It was just a sense of reset. We know that we have potential here.

“We didn't play like ourselves. The half-time chat was literally like, ‘Girls, this is not us.’ That's why it was so exciting. Let's go into the second half and show what we can do.”

It is demonstrative of a character that has been instilled by leaders like Swailes and even seasoned internationals among the Trailfinders ranks.

World Cup-winning Black Fern Ruby Tui joined the West London club this summer, while Canada’s Claire Gallagher has also featured in the Cup for Trailfinders this campaign, with each bringing their own energy to boost the young squad.

“The professionalism and the culture that Ruby brings here is incredible. She's always the first person to gee you up. She's got these crazy pre-game chants that she always wants us to try and do,” shared Swailes.

“The backs have a thing where they just clap so many times. It sounds good, to be fair. I'm personally a bit slow with it, but when it pays off, it pays off.

“Her energy is infectious, and that's exactly how I would want my teammate to respond to me in a game. She's amazing for the culture.

“With Claire, she brings so much experience and has a level of composure at that number 10 spot.

“We know what we're doing now, Claire's told us, so let's just go and attack it and trust everything she says.”

And while Gallagher and Tui are bringing their experience to the flourishing Trailfinders ranks, there is a generation being blooded in the JAECOO Next Gen Cup who are ready to take it all in.

Their link with Brunel University for the Trailfinders Women’s Rugby Academy has created a successful pipeline of talent to follow in the footsteps of the seniors.

“The transition for the Brunel girls coming into our set-up is seamless. There are so many of them. I'd say literally 60 per cent of the girls in pre-season were Brunel. The pathway that we have here has obviously shown how good it is,” added Swailes.

“Charlotte Brookes, for example, has been really good. She first came in as a 10, but she's been playing centre. She's only just come up from under-18s, and she's been absolutely class.

“Her confidence has grown, and she can just pull off these cross-field kicks like they’re nothing. It's actually incredible. I'd also say Isla Apiafi. She's also been incredible.

“It's really nice to see them come out of their shells together in training and then obviously with the older players as well.”

For Swailes, that gelling comes with her housemates, who double as teammates, through the medium of crafts.

In a house with Jess Cooksey, Rosie Inman, Sally Williams, Brooke Bradley and Bo Westcombe-Evans, it is card-making and clay-making that occupy the Trailfinders quad off the pitch.

“We all sit at the table every now and then and do our crafts together. Sally's really good at clay-making. However, I do take the water colouring crown. I'm currently doing my Christmas crafts at the moment,” said Swailes.

But when they get back on the pitch, the artistry will turn to finding a way past Saracens as they go in search of revenge.