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Mike Rayer’s 15th anniversary as DoR
Today marks the 15th anniversary since Mike Rayer took charge of his first competitive match as Director of Rugby of Bedford Blues.
Having originally been appointed in May 2005, Rayer had to wait over three months before his troops took to the field for the first time, which finally came on the opening day of the 2005/06 campaign with an away trip to Otley RFC.
The Blues started the Rayer era with a 16-all draw, but an evident change in playing style as the free-flowing, attacking hallmarks of a Rayer side quickly became obvious with an emphasis on speed and ambition. A style the club have become so accustomed to over the years.
There have been many highlights to remember since the former Welsh international took over in 2005; including, but not limited to, Ali Hepher’s dramatic drop goal against Exeter to send Blues to Twickenham in Rayer’s first season, various play-off expeditions and who can forget that 53-52 thriller against Coventry last year.
A brief statistical analysis from Rayer’s 470 competitive games in charge of the team can be found below.
Games – 470
Wins – 264
Draws – 12
Defeats – 194
Win Percentage – 56.17%
Total Points Scored: 12,836 (27.3 points scored per game on average)
Total Points Conceded: 10,534 (22.4 points conceded per game on average)
Season Statistics:
Most points scored in a season:
1,190 – 2012/13
1,181 – 2010/11
1,098 – 2005/06
978 – 2008/09
960 – 2011/12
Most wins in a season:
27 – 2010/11
24 – 2008/09 & 2012/13
23 – 2005/06
22 – 2011/12
20 – 2007/08 & 2009/10
Most Home wins in a season:
16 – 2010/11
14 – 2006/07
14 – 2012/13
13 – 2005/06
13 – 2009/10
12 – 2008/09
12 – 2011/12
Most Away wins in a season:
12 – 2008/09
11 – 2010/11
10 – 2005/06
10 – 2007/08
10 – 2011/12
10 – 2012/13
Top 10 Players to make the most appearances:
Paul Tupai – 253
Mike Howard – 239
Ollie Dodge – 224
James Pritchard – 216
Phil Boulton – 204
Sacha Harding – 190
Jake Sharp – 188
Brendan Burke – 180
Alex Rae – 152
Gregor Gillanders – 150
Other Notable Statistics:
Teams played against the most:
39 – Cornish Pirates
33 – Rotherham & Nottingham
32 – Doncaster Knights
26 – Leeds / Leeds Carnegie / Yorkshire Carnegie
25 – London Welsh
23 – Bristol
22 – Moseley & Plymouth Albion
Teams beaten the most:
20 – Rotherham & Nottingham
19 – Moseley
18 – Plymouth Albion
17 – Cornish Pirates & London Welsh
16 – The amount of times Bedford Blues have won five or more games in a row.
Most recently this happened in 2017/18 with a five-match winning run. The longest winning run by a Mike Rayer Bedford side was nine in 2010/11 as Blues defeated Nottingham (A), London Welsh (H), Birmingham & Solihull (A), Rotherham (H), Esher (A), Doncaster (H), Moseley (A), Ulster (H – B&I Cup Pool Fixture), Bristol (H).
14 – The amount of times Bedford Blues have scored 60+ points in a game.
Most recently this happened in 2015/16 with a 64-20 home victory over London Welsh. Blues have scored 80 or more on two occasions, which includes Blues’ highest score in an 87-10 victory against Stirling County at Goldington Road on 20th October 2012.
9 – The amount of times Bedford Blues have ‘nilled’ the opposition.
Most recently happened in 2012/13 with a 64-0 victory over Bedwas in the British & Irish Cup. The other times this happened came vs Blackheath (61-0 in 05/06), London Welsh (22-0 in 07/08), Manchester RFC (62-0 in 08/09), Newbury (34-0 in 08/09), Sedgley Park (64-0 in 2008/09), Moseley (23-0 in 09/10), Birmingham & Solihull (52-0 in 10/11) and Rotherham (27-0 in 11/12).
14 – Amount of teams Mike Rayer has a perfect record against.
Manchester RFC, Blackheath, Newbury, Waterloo, Launceston, Tynedale, Aberavon, Neath, Swansea, Leinster ‘A’, Bedwas, Stirling County, Ospreys Premiership Select, British Army
49 - Total teams Mike Rayer has faced in competitive action as Bedford Blues Director of Rugby
Otley RFC, Doncaster Knights, Sedgley Park, London Welsh, Cornish Pirates, Rotherham, Nottingham, Birmingham & Solihull, Blackheath RFC, Plymouth Albion, Esher RFC, Harlequins, Newbury, Exeter, Coventry RFC, Moseley RFC, Waterloo RFC, Leeds (Also known as Leeds Carnegie / Yorkshire Carnegie), Northampton Saints, Launceston RFC, Barbarians, Manchester RFC, Tynedale RFC, Bristol, Ulster Ravens (Also known as Ulster A), Llanelli RFC, Aberavon, Worcester Warriors, Neath RFC, Swansea RFC, Leinster ‘A’, London Scottish, Melrose RFC, Scarlets, British Army, Jersey Reds, Bedwas RFC, Stirling County, Newcastle Falcons, Ealing Trailfinders, Connacht Eagles, Cross Keys RFC, London Irish, Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership Select, Richmond, Ospreys Premiership Select, Hartpury, Munster ‘A’, Ampthill
*Saracens will become the 50th side Rayer has come up against in competitive league & cup competition*
