ACADEMY

SPONSORSHIP

We are delighted to announce that Constant Power Services www.cps4ups.co.uk of Hitchin have become our first Academy sponsor this season.  General Manager Kevin Wilson said ....

“Constant Power Services are delighted to help support the Blues Academy in their work in developing young local rugby players.  Many of our staff live in the Beds and Herts area and we are pleased that we can put something back into the community.”

Running the Academy is costly and we are seeking further sponsorship to support the work of the Academy.  Sponsorship can take many forms.  With a national fixture list, and high profile involvement in the National Colts Cup, the Blues Academy offers a strong name to be associated with, with good visibility in the local press, and the opportunity for you to support youth development, and the development of the Blues 1st XV players of the future.

If you are interested in supporting the Academy, and would like to discuss how sponsorship could help you, please contact me at denis@ormesher.co.uk or call me on 07909 903344.

The Blues Academy was set up in 2000, with a Mission to identify, recruit and develop professional players for the Bedford 1st XV of the future. 

The Blues Academy has a focus on Player Development and uses a competitive fixture list to develop players.  The Academy U19s play fixtures against other U19 sides such as Leicester Tigers, Moseley, Nottingham and Worcester, and older sides such as Loughborough University Freshers, Oxford University U21s, Cambridge University U21s and the RAF U23s.  Academy players play in Development XV games (with 1st XV players) in fixtures such as the senior RAF XV.   

The Blues have won the National Colts Knock Out Cup in three of the last four years and are the current holders of the trophy.

Each season around 6 – 8 Academy players train with the Blues 1st XV squad in the 2nd half of the season and a number are then invited to attend pre-season summer training with the 1st XV.  Those good enough are offered contracts with the Blues and over the last three years, six players have moved through the Academy on to Blues senior contracts.  Other players have come through the Academy to play at Championship and Premiership level elsewhere.

Player development is our main focus and in January 2011 six of the Academy squad will start training with the Blues 1st XV squad.  They will continue to play with the Academy, but these extra sessions with the 1st XV will help to accelerate their development.  If they perform well they will be invited to join the Blues 1st XV for pre-season training.  Those who show real potential may be offered Development Contracts and follow in the footsteps of other recent Academy players. 

We currently have four young players below 21, and one who celebrates 10 years with the Blues this season (Sacha Harding), all who came through the Blues Academy and are now playing 1st XV rugby for Bedford in the Championship.

Denis J. Ormesher

Bedford Blues Academy Director

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