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Monty Royston links up with Bedford Blues
The penultimate player announcement for the 2022/23 Championship campaign sees Bedford Blues secure the services of highly rated loosehead prop, Monty Royston who joins following the completion of his studies at Durham University.
The 21-year-old featured heavily in this year’s BUCS Super Rugby Competition and was named as loosehead of the year at the end of the campaign as part of an all-Durham front row. The university side – coached by Alex Keay – have won the BUCS First Division in the past two seasons.
An Ireland U18s representative international, Royston also spent some time with Hartpury College before completing his studies at university, and will now look to kick on his career in what will be his first taste of men’s rugby in the Championship.
Royston will soon graduate with a Sport and Exercise Science Degree.
On joining the club, Royston said: “I’m really excited to be getting involved in Championship rugby and cannot wait to begin pre-season training at Bedford.
“The BUCS system has been fantastic for my development over the last three years and going back-to-back league champions at Durham was something really special. It’s lit a fire beneath me to come into Bedford, push myself, and see what I can do.
“Being able to come into a new environment at Bedford and lean on the experience of others in the group and coaching staff will really greaten myself. Hopefully I can soak up as much as I can while bringing a little bit into it as well.”
Director of Rugby, Mike Rayer added: “Monty came to our attention pretty late in the day, but after doing our due diligence and watching several games, he certainly looked like a real good project for us.
“He finished the season really strongly and coming out of such a good rugby programme at Durham University, Monty ended up playing for England Students against their French counterparts. Darren Fearn was coaching the England team and it was great to be able to tap into his first-hand knowledge of working with Monty.”
