In an unusual turn of events, a rugby coach played against his own team, leading to a surprising victory for the opposition
He was on the field as scrum-half, trying to break down the defense of the very team he coaches. And guess what? Ealing won convincingly, 28-8. Thompson, who’s 34 and a former Wasps player, juggles coaching with playing. He helps out with Chinnor’s coaching once a week while also working on his level four coaching qualification.
This whole situation was actually planned out at the start of the season since both teams are in the English Championship. Thompson can’t coach Chinnor during the week they play against Ealing, which makes sense. He mentioned that both clubs agreed on this arrangement, allowing him to continue coaching while being available for selection.
Thompson believes this unique setup helps Ealing, especially since they might have some players on loan. It’s a win-win for him as a coach, too. He’s had quite the journey in rugby, playing for teams like Leeds Carnegie and Bristol before landing at Trailfinders.
With this win, Ealing is sitting pretty at the top of the table, while Chinnor is in ninth place. Ealing might even get a shot at the Gallagher Premiership next season, which is exciting news for them. They just need to win a match against the team that finishes last in the Premiership to secure that spot. What a game, huh?
