News
TEAM NEWS | Eight changes for Newcastle
Mike Rayer has named his squad as Bedford Blues prepare for a second long away trip in succession by heading to the North East for Premiership Rugby Cup action vs Newcastle Falcons tomorrow night (KO 7:45pm).
Tickets still available for the fixture under the Friday Night Lights; click here to follow the team to Kingston Park.
A fixture with some absolutely cracking previous encounters, they’ll be hoping to put on another high-octane spectacle when they square off for the 35th time tomorrow night.
With games coming thick and fast to start the season, and different challenges around every corner, Director of Rugby, Rayer has elected to shuffle his pack with eight changes compared to the Starting XV that faced Sale Sharks last time out.
Squad rotation, injury and illness all come into play amid four changes to the forwards pack and the same number in the backs division. At the face of the scrum, there is a full front row change while Kieran Curran has recovered from illness to start at openside flanker.
In the backs, Seán French and James Lennon – the two try scorers in Sale – both come in from the off this time around as does Louis Grimoldby and a competitive debut for Jordan Venter at inside centre.
Among the replacements, Geordie Irvine and Matt Arden will get their first minutes of the season having been drafted in from Northampton Saints following the unavailability within the core group.
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. Matt Worley, 14. Seán French, 13. Ethan Grayson, 12. Jordan Venter, 11. Pat Tapley, 10. Louis Grimoldby, 9. James Lennon; 1. Jamie Jack, 2. Jacob Fields, 3. Bryan O’Connor, 4. Robin Williams, 5. Alex Woolford, 6. Luke Frost, 7. Kieran Curran, 8. Joe Howard
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. James Fish, 17. Joey Conway, 18. Oisin Heffernan, 19. Geordie Irvine, 20. George Patten, 21. Jac Arthur, 22. Matt Arden, 23. Michael Le Bourgeois
