News
CUP DRAW | Blues to face Nottingham in Round One
Bedford Blues can today confirm that they will begin their end-of-season Championship Cup exploits against Nottingham in Round One following a draw yesterday conducted by the RFU.
Mike Rayer’s side will contest home-and-away legs against the Green & Whites and will travel to Lady Bay first on Friday 8th April (KO 7:45pm) before returning to Goldington Road two weeks later on Saturday 23rd April with a 3pm KO. Ticket information for both games will be announced in due course.
Should Bedford progress past Craig Hammond’s men, they will contest a two-legged Quarter Final tie with one of the two teams who progress due to having a best losing playing record. Blues could still progress even if they are defeated over two legs, scroll down for the full details of the cup format.
To allow the Championship Cup competition to begin on the second weekend in April, the conclusion of the regular season has been impacted and will now finish two weeks later than scheduled to allow teams to fulfil all fixtures cancelled by COVID-19.
The only Bedford game which has been affected is our trip to London Scottish on the final day of the league season. Our trip to the capital now takes place on Saturday 19th March with a 2:30pm kick-off.
How the Cup Format Will Work
Ealing Trailfinders have already received a bye through to the Quarter Finals due to their standing at the top of the table when the draw took place. The remaining 10 Championship teams have been drawn into five ties, which includes Bedford v Nottingham.
The five winners of these ties will automatically join Ealing in the Quarter Finals. The final two places in the last-eight will be composed of the two teams to have suffered the narrowest aggregate defeat.
The Quarter Finals will also be contested over two-legs (W/E of 30 April & 7 May) whereas the Semi-Final (W/E of 14 May) and Final (W/E of 21 May) will be one-leg only.
The draw for the Quarter Finals has already taken place and pits the winner of Bedford v Nottingham against one of the two teams to have suffered the narrowest aggregate defeat. Should Bedford and Nottingham both progress, they will not be allowed to meet again in the Quarter Finals.
The draw for the semi-final will take place at a later date.
Remaining Bedford Blues Fixture Dates
Ealing Trailfinders (A) – Saturday 12th February – 3pm
Cornish Pirates (H) – Saturday 19th February – 3pm. Book tickets now.
Nottingham (A) – Sunday 27th February – 3pm
Coventry (H) – Friday 11th March – 7:45pm. Book tickets now.
London Scottish (A) – Saturday 19th March – KO 2:30pm
Championship Cup – Nottingham (A) – Friday 8th April – KO 7:45pm
Championship Cup – Nottingham (H) – Saturday 23rd April – KO 3pm
Potential Championship Cup Quarter Final Leg 1 – W/E of 30th April
Potential Championship Cup Quarter Final Leg 2 – W/E of 7th May
Potential Championship Cup Semi Final – W/E of 14th May
Potential Championship Cup Final – W/E of 21st May
*All kick-off times and dates are still subject to change. Bedford Blues will notify supporters immediately once things are finalised*
