News

Two new recruits wil be making the Bedford debuts when the Blues head to Nottingham on Sunday afternoon for the opening game of the 2018/19 Greene King IPA Championship season.
 
Games between Nottingham and Bedford are always exciting affairs with the two teams facing off four times in league and cup action last season. While the Blues had a three wins to one record last term, all of that counts for nothing as both teams look to get the new campaign off to a winning start.
 

The Blues got back to winning ways this evening at Goldington Road with a 48-10 victory over National League One side Bishop’s Stortford in their final pre-season fixture, writes Tom Skinner.

It ended up being a comfortable triumph for Bedford after running in eight tries. The Blues’ coaching staff will however be very pleased with the professional nature in which their team dispatched their opponents. 

Despite there being a few moments where steely defending was required, the Blues overall dealt with the attacking play and powerful mauls of Bishiop’s Stortford extremely well.

As announced yesterday, Bedford have received a helpful boost for their pre-season encounter against Bishop's Stortford with England fullback Ben Foden being named in the Blues starting line-up.
 
Foden, who is heading off to join Major League Rugby in America, is one of three players drafted into the Blues squad following a number of injuries amongst the rank. Northampton Saints duo Fraser Strachen (centre) and Matt Worley (fullback) have also travelled along the A428 to lend a hand as Harry Sheppard (concussion), Lewis Robling (thigh), Jack Nay (concussion), Ryan Hutler (ankle), Jamie Elliott (hamstring) and Pat Tapley (eye socket) all remain on the casualty list.

Bedford Blues face National League One side Bishop’s Stortford this Friday night under the floodlights at Goldington Road (KO 7:45pm).

After the Blues’ last run-out against the Champions of England, Saracens, Mike Rayer and his squad are fired up and ready to finish pre-season on a high note ahead of the first Greene King IPA Championship match against Nottingham a week later.

Bedford’s opponents for the friendly clash will pose a stiff challenge ahead of competitive action as Stortford finished mid-table last season in only one division beneath the Blues.

Bedford have received a helpful boost for their pre-season encounter against Bishop's Stortford on Friday night with the news that England fullback Ben Foden will be starting the game for the Blues.

Foden, who is heading off to join Major League Rugby in America, has stepped in to lend a hand as the Blues will be without Harry Sheppard (concussion), Lewis Robling (thigh), Jack Nay (concussion), Ryan Hutler (ankle) and Pat Tapley (eye socket).

Blues skipper Lee Dickson was at Twickenham Stadium on Tuesday 21st August for the tenth Greene King IPA Championship launched ahead of the start of the 2018/19 season.

Speaking at the event, Dickson said: "The divide between the Championship and the Premiership is a lot closer than a lot of people think and every week is a tough game as shown last season. We finished third last year but one loss could have meant finishing fifth, sixth or seventh so we know how difficult the league is and we need to make sure that when we go out on the pitch we get everything spot on.

This Bank Holiday Sunday 26th August sees Goldington Road host Queens Rugby Club against a Bedfordshire County Invitational XV to mark the start of Queens Centenary celebrations (Kick Off 3pm).

There is a strong Blues theme throughout both sides with former player Mouritz Botha invitationally coaching the Queens side as well as Club Captain and former Blues and Moseley centre Simon Brading now leading the side out in the back row.  

The County select XV contains players from various Bedfordshire clubs; including Bedford Athletic, Bedford Swifts, Stockwood Park and Biggleswade as well as a selection of former Blues players.

BT Sport is giving Bedford Blues fans the chance to feature in an upcoming broadcast of their live programme, Rugby Tonight on Wednesday 31st October 2018.

Bedford Rugby Followers Association have been approached by the producers for up to 100 Blues’ supporters to be in the audience for the programme after last season’s successful debut appearance. Fans are simply asked to proudly wear their Bedford colours.

Supporters will be required to be at the Olympic Park studio in Stratford, East London, for 7pm for rehearsals. The show is broadcast live from 8pm to 10pm.

Bedford Blues were saddened to hear that Maurice Webb, the club's oldest Honorary Life Member, passed away last week after a short illness, at the age of 93.

Maurice served the club as a committee member for many years. He and his wife Hazel will be especially remembered for their service to the club's social committee and for tirelessly organising regular discos and social evenings every Saturday in the Scrum Hall to raise funds for the club.

The scoreboard may have read 15-57, but there were plenty of positives for Bedford Blues to take from this pre-season encounter against Premiership champions Saracens.

It ended nine tries to three in favour of the visitors, but the Blues coaches will have been pleased with the never-give-in attitude displayed by the entire squad as well as some monumental defensive work coupled with sublime attacking play.

Speaking at the final whistle, new recruit Ed Coulson said: “I thought we went pretty well in the first half and were right in it. We had to come out of the blocks in terms of physicality particularly as it was their first hit out.