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Premiership Rugby Cup Fixtures 2024/25
Bedford Blues have been drawn alongside Ampthill, Bath and Bristol Bears in Pool 4 of the revamped 2024/25 Premiership Rugby Cup.
Cup fixtures will take place in windows across November and February, in line with major international windows, with all dates and KO times already agreed and found below.
Blues return to Ashton Gate for the first time since 2018 to kickstart their cup exploits, before welcoming Ampthill for the first under the Friday night lights.
To close the first set of fixtures, Bedford host Bath at Goldington Road in a tantalising clash against the historic rivals from the West Country.
After the turn of the year, Mike Rayer’s men will make a rare trip to the Rec before returning home for the last time in the pool stage against Pat Lam’s Bears. Blues conclude with the short hop down the B530.
The winners of all five pools will advance automatically to the Quarter Finals of the competition, with the three best runners up also joining them in the last eight. Knockout fixtures will take place in March.
2024/25 Premiership Rugby Cup Pool Phase Fixtures
Saturday 2nd November – Bristol Bears v Bedford Blues (KO 3pm)
Friday 8th November – Bedford Blues v Ampthill (KO 7:45pm)
Saturday 23rd November – Bedford Blues v Bath (KO 3pm)
Friday 31st January – Bath v Bedford Blues (KO 7:45pm)
Friday 7th February – Bedford Blues v Bristol Bears (KO 7:45pm)
Saturday 15th February – Ampthill v Bedford Blues (KO 2pm)
All three home matches are included in this year’s Season Ticket Package with individual match tickets for all men’s matches released later today. Keep an eye on social media for confirmation and secure your spot early!
Bath – 23rd November (H) & 31st January (A)
A staple fixture in the previous century, Blues will travel to the Rec for the first time since 2000. The last win over Bath was at Goldington Road back in April 1987.
Since a first meeting in 1934, Bath lead the overall series with 25 wins to Bedford’s 21. There were three draws in the 1950s.
Bristol – 2nd November (A) & 7th February (H)
After last season’s cracking mid-season encounter, which saw the two sides share 87 points, both will look to put on some similar entertainment when meeting in competitive action for the first time since Bristol’s promotion season of 2017/18.
The match at GR commemorates 100 years since the first meeting between the sides back in 1925. Despite some recent success including a triumph at Ashton Gate in 2015, Bristol dominate the series overall with 60 wins compared to Blues’ 21 and one draw.
Ampthill – 8th November (H) & 15th February (A)
No fixture has been more frequent than Bedford v Ampthill since the Mob’s promotion to the Championship in 2018/19 – four meetings this season across all competitions will take it to 20 encounters in just over five years.
The two sides have had their respective moments throughout that time, including away successes for both last season, but can either Bedfordshire side take a Premiership scalp and push towards the knockout stages?
