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TEAM NEWS | Seven changes for Castle Park trip
Mike Rayer has named his squad as Bedford Blues look for their first away victory against Doncaster Knights in nearly a decade tomorrow afternoon (KO 2:30pm).
Tickets can be purchased directly from our hosts, click here to join us at Castle Park.
Blues will search for their first victory of 2022 when they head to South Yorkshire and will be looking to replicate the performance from earlier this season at Goldington Road, when a 31-23 victory was secured under the Friday Night Lights.
A relatively new fixture with a first meeting in 2005, yet not withstanding its drama already with an average of 46.4 points scored in this fixture, Blues will need a strong performance this time around against a Knights side that have tasted defeat on home soil just once in the past 12 months.
For the 35th meeting between the sides, Rayer makes a total of seven changes including a completely different front-row from last weekend. Following a return from injury and appearances off the bench in recent weeks, Jacob Fields starts for the first time this season and will have Joey Conway and Ed Prowse packing down either side of him.
The fourth and final alteration to the forwards sees Bailey Ransom return at blindside, with Tui Uru reverting to Number 8 to accommodate the change.
In the backs line-up, the rotation of the scrum-half jersey continues with Connor Tupai handed the starting jersey as Alex Day misses out due to his Head Injury Assessment protocols.
Elsewhere, there is a first ever Blues start for Andre Robson, who starts at outside centre as Jamie Elliott moves inside. Matt Worley also comes in to wear the 14 jersey.
Among the replacements, back row forward Geordie Irvine and centre Joel Matavesi are in line for their competitive Blues debuts having joined on dual reg and loan from our Strategic Partners, Northampton Saints.
Following further injuries and COVID-19 cases this week, Blues would like to thank Ealing Trailfinders for allowing Reuben Bird-Tulloch to re-join the club on a short-term loan basis, acting swiftly after such short notice.
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. Rich Lane (C), 14. Matt Worley, 13. Andre Robson, 12. Jamie Elliott, 11. Dean Adamson, Louis Grimoldby, Connor Tupai; 1. Joey Conway, 2. Jacob Fields, 3. Ed Prowse, 4. Robin Williams, 5. Luke Frost, 6. Bailey Ransom, 7. Joe Atkinson, 8. Tui Uru
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. Jack Hughes, 17. Corrie Barrett, 18. Osman Dimen, 19. Jordan Onojaife, 20. Oli Stedman, 21. Geordie Irvine, 22. Reuben Bird-Tulloch, 23. Joel Matavesi
