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Eagles forward Ben Landry has secured his first overseas contract. The 27-year-old has signed for Ealing Trailfinders of the Greene King IPA Championship, England’s second highest professional division, the club announced on Friday. Currently playing for the Glendale Raptors, Landry will join the club when his Major League Rugby commitments are completed in July.
It’s a landmark move for a player widely regarded as the best domestic-based lock in American rugby. Landry’s combination of size and athleticism saw him earn attention from NFL scouts. He spent the 2016 season attempting to earn a contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Since returning to rugby he has been a regular in Eagles camps and even appeared as a blindside flanker during the Americas Pacific Challenge.
Ealing are one of the fastest-rising clubs in England. They will finish the 2017-18 season in second place, with only Bristol beating them in the promotion race. The Trailfinders will need to address their facilities issues as their home at Vallis Way does not currently meet Premiership requirements but on the field they have signed an impressive group of first division veterans including recently re-signing Eagles loose forward Andrew Durutalo.
