TEAM NEWS | Five changes for Jersey trip

Posted: 16th December 2022
 

Mike Rayer has named his squad as Bedford Blues look to conclude their away exploits for 2022 with a strong showing against unbeaten Jersey Reds on the island tomorrow (KO 2pm).

Tickets still available from our hosts if you haven’t got yours before travelling, click here to purchase now.

A relatively new fixture with this encounter marking the 10th anniversary since a first competitive clash between the two sides, they are often close encounters with 11 of the 19 previous meetings being settled by one score or less.

For the 20th meeting at Stade Santander International tomorrow, Rayer makes five changes to the side which ran unbeaten league leaders Ealing Trailfinders mightily close last weekend.

Jamie Elliott makes a welcome return to the matchday squad and slots in at outside centre, with Ethan Grayson moving to the inside to accommodate the first change in the Starting XV.

Elsewhere in the backs division, Pat Tapley is named on the left wing for his first league start since October.

The final three changes come in the forwards pack as Lewis Holsey is handed a first Championship start, while there is a completely different second row compared to last weekend with Luke Frost and Robin Williams selected.

Frost’s swap into the engine room allows Jac Arthur to come in at openside, making a welcome return from the injury that has kept him out in recent weeks.

Unfortunately Michael Le Bourgeois, Dean Adamson and Joey Conway join Jacob Fields and Alex Woolford on the treatment table this weekend.

Starting XV:

15. Matt Worley, 14. Sean French, 13. Jamie Elliott, 12. Ethan Grayson, 11. Pat Tapley, 10. Louis Grimoldby, 9. Alex Day (C); 1. Lewis Holsey, 2. Jack Hughes, 3. Oisin Hefferan, 4. Luke Frost, 5. Robin Williams, 6. Karl Wilkins, 7. Jac Arthur, 8. Tui Uru

Replacements:

16. Callum Burns, 17. Monty Royston, 18. Osman Dimen, 19. Geordie Irvine, 20. Charles Rylands, 21. Jake Garside, 22. Will Maisey, 23. Tom Litchfield