1st XV News

Despite losing their opening three games of the Greene King IPA Championship season, Bedford Blues head down to Plymouth in buoyant mood following a greatly improved performance against league leaders London Scottish last weekend.

Bedford Blues have bolstered their ranks with the capture of Tongan international utility back Viliami Hakalo.

Hakalo, who can play in the centre or at fullback, made his test debut for Tonga coming off the bench against Japan in 2006 when he was just 19 years old.

Now 27, Billy and Mako Vunipola’s cousin joins the Blues from Toa Saracens in Tonga with the intention of adding some South Sea Islander magic to Bedford’s back line and staking a claim for a spot in the Tongan World Cup squad.

Following a superb second half performance away to London Scottish last Saturday, narrowly missing out on victory, Bedford Blues Backs Coach Paul Larkin is in positive spirits ahead of the big clash with Plymouth Albion this weekend at Brickfields (KO 3pm).

Gaining their first two points of the new Championship season and scoring four tries in the capital against the league’s leading form side may be considered a good result, but having been denied a controversial try by Paul Tupai in the closing moments the Blues are rather reflecting on what should have been.

Bedford Blues narrowly missed out on a bonus five point win away at The Athletic Ground after an apparent try by Paul Tupai was controversially disallowed moments before the final whistle to clinch victory for London Scottish. 

Scottish started the stronger using a bulldozing maul tactic; accouting for three of their four first half tries. A try for Scottish just before half time brought the score to 26-13, but this was by no means the end for the Blues. 

Bedford Blues are pleased to officially announce that this season’s Ladies Day will be held on Saturday 18th October against Welsh side Cross Keys in the British and Irish Cup.

Summer may now be a thing of the past, but as the season and leaves start to change, Goldington Road is preparing to welcome the female population of the region for the Blues’ annual Ladies Day as we attempt to turn Bedford pink.

It was 2007 when the Blues first turned pink to raise funds for breast cancer charities and this year the club will once again be donating to the cause as they invite Bedford's female fans through the gates to help show their support for Cancer Research UK.

New signing and flanker Justin Blanchet has spent the first two Championship matches of the season on the sidelines due to injury, but is itching to be back in contention in the weeks to come with the firm belief that there are exciting things ahead from the recently formed Blues unit.

After tasting defeat for a second time this season, Bedford Blues are attempting to bounce back against current league leaders London Scottish this Saturday at the Athletic Ground (Kick Off 3pm), and Blanchet fully expects an improved performance giving the fact they are gelling together each day and buying into new systems.

In May of this year Bedford Blues Chairman, Geoff Irvine announced he would be standing down from his positon as Chairman of the Club at the end of the 2015/16 season in a meeting of interested parties.

When the announcement was made a group was formed to take a look from outside the Club at the future of rugby in Bedford and how the club was managed.

Bedford based brewery and pub company Charles Wells has announced that it will be renewing its long-running partnership with Bedford Blues in a new and improved three year deal.  

As two great local institutions intrinsically linked to the town, Charles Wells and Bedford Blues have been working together for several decades with supporters cheering on the town’s team with a pint of some of Bedford’s finest beers. 

Bedford Blues had hoped to hit the ground running in front of the Goldington Road faithful but unfortunately Rotherham had decided to pick up where they left off last season.

The Blues tasted defeat against the Titans four times during the Championship and British & Irish Cup last term and sadly that record extended to 5 and 0 on Saturday.

The Yorkshire side ran in eight tries during the 15-42 rout and had it not been for a woeful kicking display from James McKinney – that score line could have been far worse for Bedford.

Bedford Blues will be launching a Guest Ale this Saturday against Rotherham Titans in the Eagle Bar and every month thereafter in partnership with local brewers Charles Wells.

Goldington Road will be introducing a brand new guest ale series, which kicks off this weekend with Wells Waggle Dance, available only in the former Members’ Bar and while stocks last.

The Club hopes supporters will enjoy the additional choice and quality of another Bedford brewed beer which if successful will become a lasting feature on the Blues pumps throughout the season.