Owen Bruynseels

Owen Bruynseels (born 1987) is a retired English rugby union player who played as a winger. He spent his entire career with Ealing Trailfinders, with over 200 appearances, that saw his club rise from the 6th division of English Rugby all the way up to the RFU Championship (tier 2). An opportunistic try scorer he was one of the most prolific in National League 2 South history with 81 tries in four seasons. Since retiring from playing due to injury in 2015, he was inducted into the Ealing Trailfinders 'Hall of Fame' and remains at the club as team manager.

Career

Early career Owen made his first team debut for Ealing against Twickenham in 2003. The next year newly promoted Ealing finished second in London Division 1 and qualified for a playoff against the runners-up South West 1. With home advantage given to the Trailfinders due to a better overall league standing than opponents, Cleve, Ealing won emphatically, 48–17, to gain promotion to the National Leagues.

Rise through the National Leagues

In 2007–08 despite being new boys to National Division 3 South, Ealing more than held their own, with Owen contributing 20 tries to a side that finished 3rd in the league and finished as the division's top try scorer. After a second year in which Ealing finished 3rd once again, Owen scored 18 tries from just 19 appearances during the 2009–10 as his side agonisingly missed out on the promotion playoffs, being tied on 113 points with 2nd placed Rosslyn Park, who had a better win record. After missing out on promotion over the past 3 seasons, Ealing finally did it by winning the newly named National League 2 South title after an epic battle with runners-up Jersey. It proved to be a record-breaking season for Ealing's players as Owen formed a part of a lethal strike force with fellow winger Phil Chesters as the two team-mates scored 102 tries between them. Owen got a career best of 32 tries (including 6 in one game) while Phil got an incredible 70 tries (an all-time English league record) as they destroyed defences on the way to the title, also becoming the top two try scorers in the division.

Their debut season in National League 1 saw Owen and Phil Chesters continue their prolific partnership with 62 tries between them (Owen got 20) as they finished runners-up to fellow promoted side, Jersey, who took the only promotion place. In February 2012 Owen would be called up by the England Counties XV for their game against an Irish representative side at Preston Grasshopper's Lightfoot Green ground, scoring the final try in a 34–16 victory. The 2012–13 season would see the club reach the highest point in their history as they won promotion to the RFU Championship, justifiably being deserving of their National League 1 title by finishing way ahead of second place club, Esher, with Owen contributing 15 tries to the title campaign.

Championship and Injury

The 2013–14 season started badly for Owen as he was injured in the final pre-season game, meaning that he did not play his first game until October when he returned to the side for a British and Irish Cup game against Welsh side Cross Keys. His return would not last long as Owen was injured for a second time that season – this time seriously as he broke his leg in a January league game against Moseley, ending his campaign in a year when he reached 200 club appearances for Ealing. He is currently employed at the club in the role of team manager.

Season-by-season playing stats

SeasonClub CompetitionAppearancesTriesDrop GoalsConversionsPenaltiesTotal Points 2003–04 Ealing Trailfinders London 2 North ? ? ? ? ? ? 2004–05 London 2 North ? ? ? ? ? ? Powergen Cup 1 0 0 0 0 0 2005–06 London Division 1 ? ? ? ? ? ? 2006–07 London Division 1 ? ? ? ? ? ? 2007–08 National Division 3 South 26 20 0 0 0 100 EDF Energy Cup 1 1 0 0 0 5 2008–09 National Division 3 South 20 11 0 0 0 55 2009–10 National League 2 South 19 18 0 0 0 90 2010–11 National League 2 South 30 32 0 0 0 160 2011–12 National League 1 27 20 0 0 0 100 2012–13 National League 1 22 15 0 0 0 75 2013–14 RFU Championship 4 0 0 0 0 0 British and Irish Cup 2 0 0 0 0 0 2014–15 National League 1 3 1 0 0 0 5

Honours and records

Ealing Trailfinders London Division 2 North champions: 2004–05 London 1 v South West 1 promotion playoff winners: 2006–07 National League 3 North top try scorer: 2007–08 (20 tries) National League 2 South champions: 2010–11 National League 1 champions (2): 2012–13, 2014–15

International/Representative Capped by England Counties XV: 2012