Academy News

Ealing Academy have had to cancel Saturday's game between Bedford Academy and Ealing Academy due to player availability.  

The Scrum Bar will be open for the World Cup semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand which kicks off at 4 pm.

The Blues Academy travelled to Cambridge for their second game against an older students side in a week, to face the Cambridge University LX Club (the University’s 2nd XV) at Grange Road, Cambridge.  After a tight first half the Blues were 14pts - 5 down, before playing some good rugby in the 2nd half of an entertaining game to beat the University by 29pts – 24 at Grange Road, Cambridge.

The Blues Academy travel to Cambridge for their second game against an older students side in a week.  They take on the Cambridge University LX Club (the University’s 2nd XV) on Saturday October 14th at Grange Road, Cambridge.  KO is 2.00 pm.

Bedford make eight changes to their starting lineup (one positional) with hooker Michael Bond, prop Jack Culverhouse, flanker JonJo Fanning, scrumhalf Dylan Leney, fly-half Ben Phillips, centre Paul Aguele and full back Liam Shields all starting, and Jacob Moody moving to 2nd row. 

With Bedford slow to start, Loughborough students scored three first half tries to lead by 15pts – 0 at half time.  Bedford improved their performance in the last half hour to narrow the gap before losing by 25pts – 17. 

The first 20 minutes was a succession of errors from both sides, with poor discipline from the Blues gifting L’boro a string of penalties and field position.  Loughborough scored their first try after 25 minutes when full back Jack Stapley (who was with the Blues Academy last season) scored on the blind side.  L’boro scored two further tries in the next 10 minutes to lead by 15pts – 0 at half time.

The Blues Academy welcome Loughborough University U21 XV to Goldington Road on Saturday – KO 2.00 pm.

Making their debuts for the Blues Academy in the starting lineup are ex-Millfield School prop, Henry Peck, Portugal U18 international centre Jose Fernandes and ex-St.Joseph’s College Ipswich wing, Ross Taylor.  Hoping to make their debuts off the bench are ex-Junior Blue 2nd row, Kyron Houston, Wotton School flanker, Tim Herbert, and ex-Llandovery College fly half, Ben Phillips.  The side will be captained by prop Charley Robinson.

STOP PRESS - GAME CANCELLED.

The RAF have had to cancel Saturday's game between Bedford Academy and the RAF U23 XV due to player availability. 

The Scrum Bar is open and the Rugby World Cup is on TV all day;  Italy v Canada (14:00), South Africa v Samoa (16:45) and England v Wales (20:00).
 

After a disappointing first half the Blues Academy got their act together and beat Moseley convincingly by 33 pts – 0, on the rubber crumb pitch at Moseley’s Billesley Common ground.

The Blues started the first half with an unforced error, taking the kick off with two players in front of the ball gifting, what should have been a way of pinning Moseley in their own 22, with an attacking scrum for Moseley on half way.  With Bedford never able to establish a platform up front, and Moseley disrupting the Blues continuity, and kicking frequently to use the strong wind, it was a scrappy half with neither side looking dangerous in attack. 

With the Blues playing their first Championship home game of the season against Moseley on Saturday, the Blues Academy travel to Birmingham to take on the Moseley Academy, in their first regular game of the season.

Making their debuts for the Blues Academy are ex-Oakham School prop Leon Patel-Champion, flankers Reuben Pritchard (Market Rasen), and JonJo Fanning (Moulton College and Irish Exiles), centres Harry Hutchins (Saracens and Oaklands College) and Paul Aguele (Finchley and Middlesex U18s), wing James Mellish (Old Albanians and Oaklands College), and at full back, last year’s Rugby School captain, Jack Gibbs.  The side will be captained by Aaron Martin.

The Blues Academy U19s kicked off their season with a hard fought win against London Scottish Academy U20s, by 26pts – 14 on scorching hot day at Goldington Road.  With the match played in three 30 minute periods, and London Scottish playing seven Under 20 players in the 1st and 3rd periods, with the 2nd period limited to U19s only, the afternoon allowed both sides to test a large squad of players.

The 1st period saw the older Scottish players putting Bedford under pressure in the set piece.  Scottish won a stream of good ball from the lineout and gave the Blues poor ball in the set scrum, but the Blues defence held, and the period ended with no score for either side.

The Blues Academy kick off their fixtures when they welcome London Scottish to Goldington Road this Saturday, August 22nd, Kick Off 12 noon.

Bedford have announced a squad of 30 for the game, which will be played in three 30 minute periods.

Centre Aaron Martin and winger Ryan Hutler, both who have trained with the Blues 1st XV during the summer, are in the starting lineup.