1st XV News

Having already captured Nick Fenton-Wells on a permanent deal, Bedford Blues have moved quickly to secure the services of one of the most exciting youngsters plying his trade in National League Two as well as re-signing three of the current squad.

Fullback and winger Jim Wigglesworth has joined Bedford Blues from near neighbours Cambridge where he has been a standout performer this season. The 20 year old England Counties star hails from Derbyshire and includes Hull and Nottingham as his former clubs as well as a summer season with Rugby League outfit Hull FC.

With the season tally standing at one win apiece, Sunday's Greene King IPA Championship clash between Bedford Blues and London Welsh looks set to be a corker as each team looks to finish the regular campaign in style.

While the Blues will not be competing for a top four place this time around the former Premiership side will be hoping to finsih as high as possible as they look for an immediate bounce back to the top table.

The sides met on the opening weekend for the inaugural 'Double-Header' at Allianz Park which resulted in the Exiles claiming a 23-14 victory in a game that saw a player from each side red carded.

Bedford battled hard at Vallis Way on Saturday afternoon as they claimed a 39-23 victory over Ealing Trailfinders. The Blues touched down five tries and to claim a bonus-point win and deny the Green & Whites anything out of the game in the process.

Frustrating is probably the best word to describe the 80 minutes of rugby and the result after Bedford Blues were defeated at home 18-33 by Plymouth Albion on Saturday afternoon.

Former Blue James Shanahan brought an organised and well drilled Albion side to Goldington Road and they did exactly what they needed to do to record an important win that moves them ten points clear of Bedford in the Championship table.

Bedford will be scratching their heads a little and wondering how this one got away from them particularly when they had a two man advantage in the second half, but in truth it was too many errors on the day.

Bedford Blues have started their recruitment process for the 2014/15 Greene King IPA Championship season by signing Nick Fenton-Wells from Saracens on a permanent basis.
 
After joining Saracens at the start of the 2012/13 Premiership campain, the 27 year old back row star moved to Goldington Road on loan after first team starts proved hard to come by. Sarries loss was Bedford's gain though as the former Stormer played a pivotal role in the Blues reaching last season's Championship play-off final.