1st XV News

It's been 17 weeks - that's 119 days, or 2,856 hours, even 171,360 minutes, and an incredible 10,281,600 seconds - since Bedford Blues last took to the field for a game of rugby, so it's fair to say that there is some excitement about this weekend's pre-season fixture against Plymouth Albion.

The game, which kicks off at 3pm on Saturday at Goldington Road, will be Director of Rugby Mike Rayer's first real opportunity to cast his eye over his squad in a competitive match following two months of hard graft on the training field.

Rugby returns to Goldington Road this Saturday for Bedford Blues’ first match of the season against National One promotion hopefuls Plymouth Albion (KO 3pm).

Many of the new Bedford faces will be on display with DoR Mike Rayer expected to name a strong side for a stiff first challenge against the West Country men, now led by former Blue Kieran Hallett.

Can you help get Goldington Road game ready? The supporter ground works program continues this Saturday as the Blues volunteer work force help the club with a wide range of smaller maintenance jobs throughout the summer mornings.

The big clear up aids the off-field environment of our club ahead of another exciting Championship season – and we need your help!

Bedford Blues Community team are delighted to announce our first ever roadshow camps in Northamptonshire and Essex where the delivery team will be teaching youngsters from further afield to ‘learn to play the Blues way’.

The first one-day camp on the road will be at new club partners May & Baker RUFC in Dagenham on Wednesday 2nd August from 9am – 3pm. The second three-day camp will take place just up the A428 at the famous Northampton Old Scouts rugby club starting on Tuesday 15th August at 9am – 3pm.

Bedford Blues returned to pre-season training on Monday 12 June with Strength and Conditioning Coach Sean Vine putting the lads through the paces in the gym while Mike Rayer, Martin Hynes and Paul Larkin, joined by new faces Alex Rae and Lee Dickson, cracked on with preparations for the coming campaign. We sat down with Director of Rugby Mike Rayer to learn more about what has been going on so far and what lays ahead for the lads.