'Will only drive standards': Ealing sign an Aussie Super Rugby No9

Ambitious English Championship side Ealing have signed Jack Grant, the 28-year-old NSW Waratahs scrum-half who made nine appearances in the recent Super Rugby Pacific campaign, four as a starter. It was via the National Rugby Championship in Australia that Grant first came to prominence, breaking through at the Sydney Rays before switching to NSW Country Eagles in 2018 where he played two campaigns.

Grant then took off to Japan, featuring for the NTT Red Hurricanes before the pandemic outbreak brought a premature end to the 2020 Top League season. That stoppage resulted in the half-back heading home and he since made his mark at the Waratahs, making 20 appearances after a February 2021 debut versus the Reds.

It was July 22 when the Waratahs named Grant as one of their 13 players departing after the 2022 season and having opted to take his chances in the English second tier, the scrum-half told the Ealing website: “I’m pleased to be joining such an ambitious club with such a clear plan of where we want to get to and achieve this season. I’m looking forward to diving into all the new challenges and cultures and enjoying all these new experiences with a smile on my face.”

With the Trailfinders opening their league season with a September 10 home match against likely title rivals Doncaster following a pre-season that includes games versus Biarritz and Zebre, director of rugby Ben Ward added: “Jack is a player who we have been monitoring for some time and he really impressed when he stepped up for the Waratahs during this season.

“His kicking game is very strong and he does the basics very well while giving us the option of playing the game at a different tempo. Jack joins an already strong set of scrum-halves and having this competition for places will only drive standards in training and improve the group as a whole.”