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TEAM NEWS | Four changes for Doncaster
Mike Rayer has named his squad as Bedford Blues prepare for a maiden away voyage of 2024 with the trip to Doncaster Knights tomorrow (KO 2:30pm).
Tickets still available to follow the team to South Yorkshire; click here to purchase yours.
The sides met four times in league and cup competition last season, trading 275 points at an average of just shy of 70 points per fixture, and that’s a theme that runs right throughout the previous history with an intriguing and exciting battle guaranteed.
As the next chapter of history prepares to be written on the occasion of the 40th meeting between the two sides, Rayer makes four changes to the Starting XV compared to that which took to the field in-front of a sellout attendance at Goldington Road on New Year’s Day.
That sees two alterations in the backs division, and the same number in the forwards pack, including a continuation of rotation in the prop jerseys with Jamie Jack and Bryan O’Connor this time chosen to begin proceedings.
There is a new centre partnership as Joel Matavesi returns to Bedford for his first minutes in Blues colours this season, with Jamie Elliott also returning having missed the Coventry clash through injury.
Those inclusions see player-coach Michael Le Bourgeois revert to the full-back position, last wearing the 15 jersey back in November 2022 – that was also at Castle Park against Doncaster.
Among the replacements, Craig Wright is back in the fold following recent England U20s experience.
Jacob Fields is the only injury absentee. Ethan Grayson is due to begin his transatlantic adventure to San Diego Legion this weekend and everyone at Bedford Blues wishes him luck in the MLR.
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. Michael Le Bourgeois, 14. Sean French, 13. Jamie Elliott, 12. Joel Matavesi, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Alex Day (C); 1. Jamie Jack, 2. James Fish, 3. Bryan O’Connor, 4. Tom Lockett, 5. Alex Woolford, 6. Luke Frost, 7. Joe Howard, 8. Cameron King
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. Craig Wright, 17. Joey Conway, 18. Oisin Heffernan, 19. Robin Williams, 20. Kieran Curran, 21. James Lennon, 22. Louis Grimoldby, 23. Matt Worley
