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TEAM NEWS | Squad named for Nottingham
Mike Rayer has named his squad as Bedford Blues prepare to return to Championship action under the Friday Night Lights when they travel to Nottingham to begin the season run in (KO 7:45pm).
Still time to back the boys on the road; purchase discounted tickets here.
Always an entertaining affair between two traditional rugby clubs, 73 points were shared at Goldington Road earlier this season and the paying spectators will be hopeful of a repeat performance as a fixture dating back to the 1890s takes centre stage once again tomorrow.
For the 112th meeting between the two sides, Rayer makes four changes in comparison to the squad which last took to the field in league action – on 23rd March for Ladies Day at Goldington Road.
Just one of those alterations comes in the backs division but brings about several positional changes as Blues’ top try scorer this season, Sean French is not risked this week while nursing a minor injury problem.
That sees Jamie Elliott inserted in at 13 with Joel Matavesi shifted inside. Michael Le Bourgeois will start the game at full-back as Matt Worley wears 14 for the first time in over a year.
There are changes up front as Rayer continues to rotate the front row jerseys with Jamie Jack and Oisin Heffernan selected to pack down either side of James Fish at the face of the scrum.
Jac Arthur’s inclusion at openside completes the quadruple changes.
Among the replacements, Louis Grimoldby makes a welcome return from the hip injury that ruled him out in recent weeks. After a successful England U20s Six Nations campaign, Henry Pollock is back in blue for the first time since December.
The injury list this week reads as French and Jordan Venter (ankle).
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. Michael Le Bourgeois, 14. Matt Worley, 13. Jamie Elliott, 12. Joel Matavesi, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Alex Day (C); 1. Jamie Jack, 2. James Fish, 3. Oisin Heffernan, 4. Emeka Atuanya, 5. Alex Woolford, 6. Luke Frost, 7. Jac Arthur, 8. Cameron King
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. Jacob Fields, 17. Joey Conway, 18. Bryan O’Connor, 19. Robin Williams, 20. Joe Howard, 21. Henry Pollock, 22. James Lennon, 23. Louis Grimoldby
