1st XV News

After a great season on the pitch the Club have once again turned their attention to the summer ground improvement and refurbishment programme.

In 2015, following the additional RFU funding of £50,000 for the development of facilities, the Club spent over £70,000 in total to ensure both player and supporter experience met with the standards required, and this year we continue to build on that approach with a projected investment of £80,000.

The project has prioritised the following key improvements for this summer:

As well as a new look squad for the 2016/17 Championship season, Bedford Blues have also welcomed two new members to the Board of Directors.
 
James Stonor and Leigh Mansell have both accepted invitations from Chairman Geoff Irvine to become Directors of the club with immediate effect.
 

Bedford Blues returned to pre-season training on Saturday morning with the players being put through their paces at by the coaching team as preparations for the 2016/17 Championship campaign got underway.

Saturday was the first opportunity for the squad to come together at Alexander Sports Centre and as the players got acquainted with one another, they were also given the once over by Strength and Conditioning Coach Andrew Petts and his team.

Bedford Blues will be working closely once again with Premiership and European Champions Saracens next season as five promising youngsters - including three members of the England Under 20 squad - move to Goldington Road for the 2016/17 Greene King IPA Championship campaign.
 
The likes of Owen Farrell, George Kruis, Jackson Wray, James Short, and Will Fraser all gained valuable experience with the Blues before going on to make a huge impact with Saracens and the same is hoped for the current crop who will be heading up the M1 from Allianz Park.
 

Bedford Blues have bolstered their front row options with the signing of hooker George Edgson from Wasps and tighthead prop David Spelman from Cambridge University for the 2016/17 Championship season.
 
Edgson, 20, already has Championship experience having spent the second half of last season with Rotherham Titans. He also featured for National One side Blackheath and follows in the footsteps of Wasps colleagues Piers O’Conor and Alex Lundberg who joined the Blues from Wasps last season.