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TEAM NEWS | Squad named for Championship opener
Mike Rayer has named his side as Bedford Blues prepare to raise the curtain on their 24/25 Championship campaign by hosting Caldy at Goldington Road tomorrow (KO 3pm).
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Just a sixth meeting between the two sides throughout history, all of which have come since Caldy’s promotion to the Championship in 2022, and another cracker is expected as the competitive season gets underway.
Both sides ran Premiership opposition close in their respective pre-season schedules so will be battle ready at Goldington Road looking for a strong start on opening weekend. Read more about the game in our online matchday programme available now simply by clicking here.
For the game, Rayer has made four changes to the Starting XV in comparison to the team that took to the field from the off against Northampton Saints last week in the club’s final pre-season outing.
Some of those alterations are enforced following injuries sustained at Franklin’s Gardens but does allow nine players to be in with a chance of their competitive club debuts.
Northampton Saints’ George Smith runs out in blue for the first time having been chosen in the engine room, while having settled in during pre-season, Louis James, Tommy Herman and Fred Tuilagi complete the changes to the starting side.
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. Louis James, 14. Matt Worley, 13. Lucas Titherington, 12. Michael Le Bourgeois (C), 11. Alfie Garside, 10. Will Maisey, 9. James Lennon; 1. Joey Conway, 2. Tommy Herman, 3. Oisin Heffernan, 4. George Smith, 5. Luke Frost, 6. Fred Tuilagi, 7. Jac Arthur, 8. Cameron King
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. Nathan Langdon, 17. Jamie Jack, 18. Bryan O’Connor, 19. Shay Kerry, 20. Archie Benson, 21. Jake Garside, 22. Toby Cousins, 23. Joel Matavesi
Unavailable for selection this week:
James Fish, Alex Woolford, Rory Ward, Joe Howard, Alex Day, Dean Adamson, Jamie Elliott, Pat Tapley
